Southern Jewish Life, July 2021

Southern Jewish Life P.O. Box 130052 Birmingham, AL 35213

Volume 31 Issue 7

July 2021

Southern Jewish Life

shalom y’all There are so many topics swirling these days, deserving of attention and exploration. By the time the post office gets around to delivering this issue, you can check our website, sjlmag.com, for thoughts on many of these topics.

Naturally, antisemitism is at the top of the list, in many variants.

While comparing the July 11 “No Fear” Washington rally against antisemitism to the 1989 Soviet Jewry rally that drew 250,000 is unfair, it is still puzzling that a major national rally against antisemitism should draw just 3,000 — and that some left-wing Jewish groups stayed away because they feared Israel would be mentioned in non-negative ways.

Closer to home, the controversy over Critical Race Theory and much of what is being taught under that umbrella is now spreading to envelop even mainstream anti-bias and multicultural work, as seen by Mountain Brook Schools’ rejection of the Anti-Defamation League’s anti-bias training. While there are valid criticisms about the ADL’s leftward tilt under Jonathan Greenblatt (which certainly hasn’t helped in this situation) and being slow to the table to criticize left-wing antisemitism, especially by those of color, seeing the ADL painted as radical-left should alarm the community.

Add to the mix that many CRT lessons include hostility toward Jews as being among the most privileged, and that antisemitism is no big deal because of that. In many places, those developing anti-bias curriculae are taking the opportunity to paint Israel and Jews in oppressive terms, as has been seen in California and Washington state — for the latter, fifth graders being taught that the Native American plight is comparable to the Palestinians under Israeli rule (at press time, that has been pulled due to the controversy).

Check our website, because there is so much more to say — and we wish we didn’t have to say it.

Lawrence Brook, Publisher/Editor

SJL Online: sjlmag.com Southern Jewish Life is an independent Jewish periodical. Articles and columns do not necessarily reflect the views of any Jewish institutions, agencies or congregations in our region.

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July 2021 • Southern Jewish Life

3

commentary

MESSAGES

Maccabi USA leader praises Birmingham Games

I have had the honor of attending many Maccabi competitions around the world. From Israel to Australia to South America, Europe and the JCC Maccabi games around the United States and Canada, I have logged many miles seeing how sports can be a vehicle to help build Jewish Bittersweet — that is the feeling I am over- seem difficult for us to identity, especially in our young. come with, while I write this farewell piece, as remain connected on I felt honored to come to Birmingham for the first time and fell in love with not just the city my tenure as Consul General of Israel to the a daily basis; however, but the people. You have taken Southern hospitality to a new level with your kind and caring Southwest comes to a close. even though we will be approach to the JCC Maccabi Games.

I am filled with sweet emotions, because of far away, we will still be the Sokol andactivities, Helds, your hard-working volunteers werein wonderful.

They partnered all Led the by people, places, memories and here with you, spirwith your outstanding staff, led by Betzy Lynch, to make the 2017 JCC Maccabi games a huge hit. work that I have had the pleasure of experienc- it. We will cherish the I want to take thislast opportunity executive director of Maccabi USA to say thank you on behalf ing during these four years.asMy family and memories we made here everyone involved.on Aug. 7, 2017. This was and reminisce often on Ioflanded in Houston ourI had first just timereturned here andfrom we didn’t know anyone. the games incredible experithe 20th World Maccabiah in Israel with a U.S. delegation of For andwho my family, feltJewish like a completely and friendships overme 1100, joined this 10,000 athletes fromences 80 countries.

Back in July the eyes of the entire new world. thatThis impacted me with and 1000 athletes and Jewish world were on Jerusalem and the Maccabiah. past month Fast forward four years, and we truly feel as my family for the last 1,460point. days. The departure coaches from around the world being in Birmingham, you became the focal though this is our second home. The main rea- will be challenging, but I believe that we shall from theisJewish community the community at large, wonderful sonEveryone we feel that this so, is because of theand peoall experience in ourincluding lives theablessing of King police are tothe be hospitality commended.

These games will go down in history beinggo a seminal ple, theforce, warmth, and welcome, David in Psalms 84:8 —as“They from strength moment for the Jewish community as we thestrength. future by the true concern, and the genuine love webuild haveto to ” providing such wonderful Jewish memories. received from so many of you. All of these exI would like to conclude with one final periences leave us with endless fond memories thought. If I was asked what I would want my Jed Margolis and incredibly full hearts. final words as Consul General of Israel to the Executive Director, Maccabi USA With the sweet emotions also comes bitter Southwest to be, allow me to say that I pray feelings, as my term comes to an end and it is people will remember me as a proud Israeli-Jew, supremacists would like to see pushed back time for us to return home. We will truly miss who tried his best to represent Israel the best On Charlottesville into a corner and made to feel lesser. We stand this incredible community and family that we that he could. with and pray for the family of Heather Heyer, Editor’s Note:behind.

This reaction to the events in must leave The distance will make it Remember me as one who strived to advocate who was there standing up to the face of this Charlottesville, written by Jeremy Newman, at the greatest of my ability for the Jewish State. hate.

Master of the Alpha Epsilon Pi Theta Colony Think of me as the official representative of Isrecognize essence of the American at Auburn University, was shared by AEPi raelWe who was, is,the and will forever fight for the narrative as a two-century old struggle to rid National, which called it “very eloquent” and Jewish People. ourselves allow those inlife praised “our brothers at AEPi Theta Colony at If I wereoftosuch sumcorners, up theseand four wonderful, them the seat at the table that they so deserve.

Auburn University and… the leadership they changing years into two sentences, I would say It is the struggle to of fulfill the promise ofto the display on their campus.” this: I tried with all my heart and soul assist Declaration of Independence, that “all men areIt Professional Counseling the State of Israel as best as I possibly could. created equal… endowed byfor their with was an honor and privilege me,Creator and I know White supremacy has been a cancer on certain that the unalienable best is yet torights. come.” We know our work our country since its beginning, threatening is Shalom far fromve-lhitraot finished, but know we will —we goodbye and wenot shall its hopes, its values, and its better angels. moveagain. backwards. meet The events that took place in Charlottesville When Katz men and women, fully armed, Gilad is Israel’s consul generaltake to the represented the worst of this nation. Those to the streets in droves with swastikas and covwho marched onto the streets with tiki torches Southwest. Based in Houston, the consulate other symbols Arkansas, of hate, it isTexas, a reminder of how ers Louisiana, Oklahoma and and swastikas did so to provoke violence and relevant the issues of racism and anti-Semitism New Mexico. fear. Those who marched onto the streets did are today. It is a wake-up call to the work that so to profess an ideology that harkens back to needs to be done to ensure a better, more a bleaker, more wretched time in our history.

A time when men and women of many creeds, welcoming country. But it should not come without a reflection on how far we’ve come. races, and religions were far from equal and far Send your letters to editor@sjlmag.com, or America was 130052, born a slave nation. AAL century from safe in our own borders. A time where mail to P.O. Box Birmingham, 35213 into our history we engaged in a war in part Americans lived under a constant cloud of to ensure we would not continue as one. We racism, anti-Semitism and pervasive hate. The events that took place in Charlottesville served found ourselves confronted by the issue of civil rights, and embarked on a mission to ensure Confidential individual as a reminder of how painfully relevant these Wrap it in maroon and white: Nelle the fair treatment of all peoples no matter their issues today. therapy available orare couples and John Cohen celebrate the first-ever skin color. Although we’ve made great strides, by phone, video call or in with person Auburn’s Alpha Epsilon Pi stands the national championship for Mississippi it is a mission we’re still grappling with today.

Jewish community of Charlottesville, and following COVID-19 protocols.

State University, where he has been Americadirector was alsosince born2016, an immigrant with the Jewish people around the country athletics after serving Mosttheinsurance accepted country. early ascoach the pilgrims, and around world. We also stand with the as headAs baseball for eightmany years. On groups andthe families found in Vanderbilt, the country9-0, the minorities who are targeted by the hate that June 30, Bulldogs beat Collat Jewish Family Services opportunity to plant World stakes,Series chase in their future, was on display in Charlottesville. We stand to win the College Omaha. www.cjfsbham.org and be themselves. Few were met with open with the minorities of whom205.879.3438 these white

A Farewell Message from Consul General Gilad Katz

What do you think?

On Our Cover

4 July 2021 • Southern Jewish Life

January 2021 July 2021

Southern Jewish Life PUBLISHER/EDITOR Lawrence M. Brook editor@sjlmag.com ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER/ADVERTISING Lee J. Green lee@sjlmag.com ASSOCIATE EDITOR Richard Friedman richard@sjlmag.com V.P. SALES/MARKETING, NEW ORLEANS Jeff Pizzo jeff@sjlmag.com CREATIVE DIRECTOR Ginger Brook ginger@sjlmag.com SOCIAL/WEB Emily Baldwein connect@sjlmag.com PHOTOGRAPHER-AT-LARGE Rabbi Barry C. Altmark deepsouthrabbi.com CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Rivka Epstein, Louis Crawford, Tally Werthan, Stuart Derroff, Belle Freitag, Ted Gelber, E. Walter Katz, Doug Brook brookwrite.com BIRMINGHAM OFFICE P.O. Box 130052, Birmingham, AL 35213 2179 Highland Ave., Birmingham, AL 35205 205/870.7889 NEW ORLEANS OFFICE 3747 West Esplanade, 3rd Floor Metairie, LA 70002 504/249-6875 TOLL-FREE 888/613.YALL(9255) ADVERTISING Advertising inquiries to 205/870.7889 for Lee Green, lee@sjlmag.com Jeff Pizzo, jeff@sjlmag.com Media kit, rates available upon request SUBSCRIPTIONS It has always been our goal to provide a large-community quality publication to all communities of the South.

To that end, our commitment includes mailing to every Jewish household in the region (AL, LA, MS, NW FL), without a subscription fee.

Outside the area, subscriptions are $25/year, $40/two years. Subscribe via sjlmag.com, call 205/870.7889 or mail payment to the address above.

Copyright 2021. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in whole or part without written permission from the publisher.

Views expressed in SJL are those of the respective contributors and are not necessarily shared by the magazine or its staff. SJL makes no claims as to the Kashrut of its advertisers, and retains the right to refuse any advertisement.

Documenting this community, a community we are members of and active within, is our passion.

We love what we do, and who we do it for.

agenda interesting bits & can’t miss events On June 9, Dani Loeb of the Montgomery area threw the ceremonial first pitch at the Montgomery Biscuits game. She is the first Alabamian to be on the U.S. National Ski Team, and is working toward making the 2022 Winter Olympics.

Louisiana Jewish Coalition announced After several statewide Zooms that brought Jewish community leaders from across Louisiana together for discussions on how to help the Lake Charles community after Hurricane Laura hit the area last August, a simple question emerged: Why get together only when there is a disaster?

The new Louisiana Jewish Coalition will be formally announced later in July. It will be coordinated by Michelle Neal and Garrett Moore from the Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans, and three main events are being planned to kick off the coalition.

The coalition is intended to be “more than ‘let’s get together when we have a hurricane’,” Neal said. Among the aspects being discussed are statewide programming, joint advocacy and economies of scale when purchasing.

The first event will be a three-part series on numerous aspects about politics, relations and life in Israel, from different angles. The sessions will be on three Sundays, Aug. 15 to 29, with times and Zoom links to be announced. The first will feature Aaron David Miller, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, global affairs analyst for CNN and former senior advisor for Arab-Israeli negotiations.

The other two sessions will each cover two topics, and the Aug. 22 presentation will include Birmingham native U.S. Rep. Elaine Luria of Virginia, a Democrat, and Rep. Mark Green of Tennessee, a Republican. The Birmingham and Nashville Jewish communities will be invited to participate in the program, which will discuss a range of topics affecting the American Jewish community, including Israel, antisemitism and security.

Herb Keinon from the Jerusalem Post is also scheduled for the series.

The second planned event will be a retreat for Jewish leadership from across the state, likely around February or March, and possibly at the Coushatta resort in Kinder. In 2008, the Coushatta established ties with Israel, the first Native American tribe to do so.

SJL “Jewish Light” expose wins national journalism award Southern Jewish Life magazine received a national journalism award for its November 2020 expose of the Jewish Light in New Orleans.

The story received the Boris Smolar Award for Enterprise or Investigative Journalism in the American Jewish Press Association’s 40th annual Simon Rockower Awards for Excellence in Jewish Journalism.

The Rockowers are the highest honor in the field of Jewish journalism, and were announced on June 24.

The Southern Jewish Life piece, “Shedding Light on the Light,” written by Editor Larry Brook, details how the Jewish Light claims to be the local Jewish newspaper in New Orleans, but has no connection to the local Jewish community and does not work with any local Jewish groups or institutions.

The Light claims vastly unrealistic circulation numbers and does not mail to the Jewish community, placing copies in small stacks in a handful of places around the community. The Light also does no local reporting and most in the Jewish community are not familiar with the publication — but they have a lot of ads by those hoping to reach the Jewish community, especially greetings ads from area politicians.

Some Jewish institutions, including both Jewish Community Centers, no longer allow the Light to distribute on their premises.

Southern Jewish Life was competing against magazines and monthly newspapers across the country. This is Southern Jewish Life’s 18th Rockower.

The AJPA plans to hold its 2023 annual conference in New Orleans.

The current president is Alan Smason, owner of New Orleans’ online Crescent City Jewish News, which received an honorable mention Rockower for commentary.

July 2021 • Southern Jewish Life

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agenda The third program being discussed is an Israel Independence Day event at the Governor’s Mansion in Baton Rouge next May, as a kickoff to next summer’s Israel trip being organized by the Federation in New Orleans (see story, below).

Arnie Fielkow, CEO of the Federation in New Orleans, said the objective is to bring the Louisiana Jewish community together. The coalition is being formed in consultation with the Federations in Baton Rouge and Shreveport, and the independent Network communities, along with congregational representatives.

Currently, the New Orleans Jewish community is twice the size of the rest of the state combined.

Louisiana mission to Israel, UAE announced for next summer

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The Abraham Accords were signed between Israel and four Arab countries during the Covid pandemic. Now that travel to Israel is once again possible, groups are starting to include visits to those countries as part of the package.

The Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans announced “a unique mission to Israel” scheduled for next July, with an optional extension to the United Arab Emirates.

The Israel trip will be July 12 to 18, then the UAE extension will be through July 22. The Israel visit will include the opportunity to take part in the opening ceremonies of the 2022 Maccabiah Games, the third-largest sporting event in the world.

Arnie Fielkow, CEO of the Federation, said the trip is open to the entire state, and is for both Jews and non-Jews. The mission will have five tracks, including four business tracks, and they expect around 200 participants.

According to the Federation, the mission “is designed to strengthen Louisiana’s economic ties with Israel by helping to increase exports to the country, build strategic relationships, and explore new business opportunities.”

In 2018, Governor John Bel Edwards led a week-long trade mission to Israel.

The tracks include medicine, biotechnology and healthcare; energy, water management and engineering; transportation, including ports and maritime; and cyberspace and security. Jones Walker LLP is the title sponsor, with additional sponsors including the World Trade Center New Orleans, the New Orleans Business Alliance, GNO Inc., and Louisiana Economic Development.

The fifth track is the Explore Israel track, which will be open to the state’s Jewish community. The mission will include visits to Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, and industry specific places of interest for each of the four business tracks.

Registration information will be announced in the fall.

North Louisiana Mission

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6 July 2021 • Southern Jewish Life

Registration is already open for a North Louisiana Jewish community mission to Israel, Feb. 14 to 24. Rabbi Feivel Rubinstein, program director at the North Louisiana Jewish Federation, will lead the mission, having led several similar groups before, and having lived in Jerusalem for two years. There will also be an Israeli tour guide with the group.

The trip is currently limited to 30 participants, with the possibility of expansion if there is a large waiting list. There will be two nights at Kibbutz Hagoshrim in the Galilee, six nights at the Dan Panorama in Jerusalem and two nights at the Renaissance Hotel in Tel Aviv.

Itinerary stops include Caesarea, Tzfat, the Golan Heights, Shabbat with home hospitality in Jerusalem, Masada and the Dead Sea, an archaeological excursion, and exploring Jerusalem, Tel Aviv and Jaffa.

The North Louisiana Federation has a $300 subsidy available for members who want to go on the trip.

agenda Birmingham Federation launches Jewish community survey As part of a strategic planning initiative, the Birmingham Jewish Federation has launched a community-wide survey “to build a stronger Jewish community in the Greater Birmingham area.”

The online survey is part of the planning process and will help the Federation set community priorities for the next several years. The initiative is building on information collected during the 2018 NextGen roadmap process, bringing together Jewish professionals, lay leaders and community members. There will also be opportunities for live interviews and focus groups, which will be announced later.

The goal is to unveil a strategic plan to the community by the fourth quarter of 2021.

Chaired by Layne Held and Joel Piassick, the process is the first strategic plan that the Federation has done in two decades. “The recent pandemic highlighted the increased level of change that our community is experiencing,” said Federation CEO Danny Cohn. “The Federation is undertaking this process to ensure our continued strength as we change together to building a sustainable thriving Jewish Community.”

The survey is currently being publicized by local agencies and congregations in an attempt to reach as many community members as possible, regardless of affiliation or lack thereof. Anyone in the Birmingham area over the age of 18 who identifies Jewishly is asked to take the online survey, which should take approximately 15 minutes. Each person in a household can answer separately.

Those who participate can enter their name for a drawing for an Israel Bond, though all responses and personal information are completely confidential. The survey is being coordinated by a third-party research firm.

Anyone unable to take the survey because of technology issues should contact the Federation office. Congregations and agencies are sharing an online link, or a link to the study is available at bjf.org.

“Honor Thy Mother” and benefit JFS with Shabbat dinners After a year of strain due to the pandemic, Jewish Family Service of Greater New Orleans is giving mothers in the area a night off for every Shabbat in August, with the “Honor Thy Mother” Shabbat dinner series.

The agency is partnering with Kosher Cajun and Dvash Catering, and proceeds benefit the JFS affordable counseling program. Community members can also “pay it forward” and place an order that will be delivered to a JFS client in need.

Meals are $54 per person, plus $13 for a bottle of Barkan Cabernet Sauvignon or $6 for a bottle of grape juice. Orders must be received by noon on the Wednesday before, and no substitutions can be offered. Meals can be picked up at the Uptown or Metairie JCC on Friday between 3 and 5 p.m.

Orders can be made online at jfsneworleans.org/honor-thy-mother or by calling the office.

All meals include challah. On Aug. 6, Kosher Cajun’s “Sarah“ includes a garden salad and choice of lemon pepper salmon or rosemary garlic chicken with green beans almondine and roasted potatoes, and chocolate brownies. “Rebecca,” on Aug. 13, includes a garden salad and choice of blackened salmon or duck sauce chicken, with seasoned rice and steamed broccoli, and fresh baked cookies.

Dvash takes over with “Rachel” on Aug. 20, with spicy eggplant salad, a choice of Moroccan fish or chicken marsala, with butternut squash and Moroccan rice, and chocolate mousse cake. On Aug. 27, “Leah” includes spinach pie, choice of Panko fish or honey glazed chicken with mushroom orzo and garlic saffron green beans, and a Napoleon.

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agenda You’re in charge of many things. Including your future.

Life can unexpectedly force you to face new obstacles, including financial challenges, like budgeting. Are you able to afford education expenses? How will you plan for retirement?

Having someone dedicated to your family’s future is the first step toward achieving your financial goals. As your Morgan Stanley Financial Advisor, I can help you create a financial strategy customized to fit your needs that considers all aspects of your life.

Children’s author Julie Sternberg will be at a “Walk Down the Memory Aisle” program at the Easr Baton Rouge Public Library Goodwood branch on Aug. 1 at 3 p.m. The program will be about remembering the Goudchaux’s/Maison Blanche department stores 30 years after their sale. Sternberg’s newest book, “Summer of Stolen Secrets,” is about 13-year-old Catarina visiting her Jewish grandmother in Baton Rouge and working at the family’s department store. Sternberg’s grandmother, “Ms. Lea” Sternberg, was the “matriarch” of Goudchaux’s, and the store is the inspiration for the book.

Advice matters. Contact me to learn more.

Frank Siegal, CFP® First Vice President | Financial Advisor Senior Management Investment Consultant 3500 Colonnade Pkwy, Suite 200 Birmingham, AL 35243 205-969-7017 frank.a.siegal@morganstanley.com advisor.morganstanley.com/ the-summit-group

Roey Shoshan has joined Friends of the Israel Defense Forces as the Southeast States Director and will lead the day-to-day activities in the region, expanding the FIDF throughout the Southeast.

Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC (“Morgan Stanley”), its affiliates and Morgan Stanley Financial Advisors or Private Wealth Advisors do not provide tax or legal advice. Clients should consult their tax advisor for matters involving taxation and tax planning and their attorney for matters involving trust and estate planning and other legal matters.

CFP Board owns the marks CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™, and CFP® (with plaque design) in the U.S. © 2021 Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC. Member SIPC SEG015 CRC 3610041 06/21 CS 10045104 06/21

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Rebecca Broder Egolf, wife of Rabbi Jim Egolf, formerly of Beth Israel in Jackson, passed away peacefully on June 9 after a long battle with cancer. Services were held on June 10 in the Cleveland, Ohio area.

She is also survived by her children Jeremiah and Joshua; sister Gail Broder of Seattle, Wash., and brother Phil (Carly) Broder of Mechanicsburg Pa. Memorials can be made to Anshe Chesed-Fairmount Temple, (fairmounttemple.org) or the Henry S. Jacobs Camp in Utica.

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ADL Southeast announced that Yael Sherman has begun as the new Atlanta Director of Development. She comes to ADL from the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta, where she began as a Major Gifts Officer and then was promoted to their Director of Women’s Philanthropy.

She is stepping in to the role previously held by Erica Greenblatt, who is now the Southern Division Director of Philanthropic Outreach.

Rabbi Mendel Ceitlin is leading Read It In Hebrew, a five-class crash course in Hebrew reading, at Chabad in Metairie. The class will run on Sundays from Aug. 1 to Sept. 12 from 10:30 a.m. to noon, skipping Aug. 15 and Sept. 5. Registration is $99, which includes a flashcard set.

The North Louisiana Jewish Federation will have its annual meeting on Aug. 1 at 10 a.m. at Agudath Achim. The meeting is open to all Federation members, defined as any Jewish adult who has made a donation of $25 or more to the annual campaign.

The Jewish Endowment Foundation of Louisiana announced that its annual event will be on March 6 at the Audubon Tea Room.

A reception will be at 11:30 a.m., followed by the noon event. More details will be announced soon.

June 18, 2021 11:00 AM

The next joint program of the Rosh Ha’ayin Partnership2Gether Steering Committee, the Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans, the Birmingham Jewish Federation and the Jewish Federation of Lehigh Valley will be “Complexities and Trends in the Jewish Nation,” featuring Iris Posklinsky, head of the Jewish Agency for Israel’s partnership for the northern region. The online program, on July 26 at 11 a.m., will include discussions on demographic data and what it means, changes and challenges in Israel, and trends in Jewish philanthropy.

Rabbi David Cohen-Henriquez of B’nai Israel in Pensacola will lead a four-part class, “Preparing for the High Holidays,” Tuesdays at 11 a.m. from Aug. 3 to 24. Participants can bring their own dairy or pareve lunch. Recommended reading is “This is Real and You are Completely Unprepared” by Alan Lew. Chabad of Pensacola announced its first-ever session of Camp Gan Israel, a day camp for elementary school students. The camp will be held from Aug. 1 to 6, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Registration is open through Chabad.

The Jewish community of Selma will be highlighted as part of the Case Western Reserve University remote Jewish Anthropology lecture continued on page 40

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July 2021 • Southern Jewish Life

community

Shalom. Make yourself at home.

Surfside condo collapse echoes throughout the region Birmingham’s Gary Cohen among those killed The collapse of the Champlain Towers South condominium building in Surfside, Fla., on June 24 echoed in Alabama, as Gary Cohen, a member of Birmingham’s Jewish community, was among the killed, and his brother Brad was still missing as of press time, though a ring believed to be his was found on July 10.

Gary traveled to South Florida to visit his ailing father and was staying with his brother at his 11th floor condo at Champlain Towers South.

Brad’s wife, Soraya, and 12-yearold daughter, were staying in a different apartment building that Mindy and Gary Cohen night. The family would split time between their two properties.

Five days after the collapse, Gary’s wife, Mindy, who is co-president of Hadassah Birmingham, told WPLG-TV that “I believe that Judaism sets up a structure and guidelines and gives us a moral compass. And that’s how we’re getting through this.”

John Merkle, director of the Tuscaloosa VA Medical Center, said “Gary Cohen is one of our physicians and has worked many years providing care to our veterans. He is part of the Tuscaloosa VAMC family and our thoughts and prayers are with him and his family during this incredibly difficult time.”

The tragedy also was felt in New Orleans, as on July 6, Rabbi Yossie Nemes said that their nephew’s uncle and aunt, Tzvi and Itty Ainsworth, were found and identified.

As of July 11, 94 bodies had been recovered from the collapsed building, with 22 people still missing. In the initial days, searchers made slow progress because of the threat of further collapse, but on July 4 the remaining part of the building was imploded in advance of a tropical storm.

An Israeli team has been among those searching through the rubble.

Natives of Dix Hills, N.Y., the Cohens had been deepening their Jewish commitment over the years. Rabbi Yaakov Saacks of the Jewish Chai Center in Dix Hills told Chabad.org that when Brad was finishing medical school in Cincinnati, he had an Orthodox friend, and was interested in furthering his own knowledge and observance. That soon spread to the rest of the family.

“In recent years, Judaism has taken an increasingly central place in the lives of Gary and Mindy Cohen,” said Rabbi Yossi Friedman, program director at Chabad of Alabama. He told Chabad.org that the Cohens kept Shabbat by staying home as they were not within walking distance, or by staying with friends who were.

“Gary was always coming over to me and sharing what he learned online or had read,” Friedman said. “With a unique persistence, he would always probe, ask, debate and discover. He was not shy about sharing his understanding, but he was always willing to listen to others and concede to them when he thought they were right. It was amazing to watch him grow and learn.”

Saacks traveled to Florida to be with the family as search teams comb the rubble. He admitted that even as a rabbi of 30 years, “I had no answers as to why this happened” and no one can answer “as to what, why

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Southern Jewish Life No Lazy Days of Summer

There once was a time when summer was a slower time of year for us at Southern Jewish Life. But not any more.

Journalism has become a 24/7, 365 days a year business — and since important stories and breaking news are at the heart of what we do, business, it can be said, is booming.

As the Deep South’s only award winning Jewish publication (we picked up another first place award from the American Jewish Press Association last month), we have an important role to play.

Be it growing antisemitism in our region; the need to promote diversity training in local school systems; tracking the inflammatory rhetoric coming from elected officials, or weighing in on the very future of Jewish life in our region, Southern Jewish Life magazine is there.

Along with our expanding online presence, we continue to mail Southern Jewish Life monthly to every known Jewish household in our four state region, which includes Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi and NW Florida.

This summer we also will be debuting two important new initiatives — our Guide to the Jewish South and Israel InSight, a new Israel-focused website and magazine geared toward Israel’s Christian supporters. And we have even more ideas up our sleeve!

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July 2021 • Southern Jewish Life

community or how God works.”

He added that an answer by Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, former chief rabbi of Britain, resonates with him — “the reason there is no answer is because an answer is hurtful. Can you imagine if there were an answer, then people would go around and say that so and so died because of such and such. This would be degrading, and it is better that we do not know why.”

On June 30, Eyal Ron led a recitation of Psalm 20 at Bais Ariel Chabad Center in Birmingham, describing the psalm as one offered for someone “who is suffering in a distant place, where one is unable to help.”

He added that while the outcome was uncertain six days after the collapse, “we are going to be as optimistic as possible.”

Rabbi Yossi Posner spoke of the three weeks between the 17th of Tammuz and Tisha B’Av as a time when “great calamities have come on the Jewish people through history,” but “what’s amazing about the Jewish people is we are always trying to find that silver lining in tragedies,” such as the Mishna being codified after the Temple was destroyed in 70 C.E. Posner spoke of Cohen’s involvement in expanding his Jewish practice, from a time about six years ago when he spoke to Posner about a mezuzah, then tefillin, and Posner noted that Cohen wanted to have the finest when it came to items with which to do mitzvot.

Posner urged everyone to take on a mitzvah in Cohen’s honor, “remember Gary, remember the family, close your eyes, say a little prayer.”

The next morning, which was one week after the collapse, Chabad opened its doors for a steady stream of men in the community to come put on tefillin.

The family had recently celebrated the wedding of son Jared to Stephanie Cline of Memphis, on May 23.

Hadassah is among many groups that have set up funds that will be sent to the Greater Miami Jewish Federation, which is working on shortterm and long-term needs for the families.

Time to re-celebrate After Covid delay, Baton Rouge’s Beth Shalom concludes 75th anniversary with Torah scribing weekend Just before Covid shut down most of 2020, Beth Shalom in Baton Rouge held a kickoff weekend for a series of 75th anniversary programs.

The anniversary “year” is concluding a little behind schedule, but with a series of events the weekend of Aug. 13, centered around the congregation’s effort to make sure its Torahs are in proper shape as part of the anniversary proceedings.

The Torah weekend was originally scheduled for last August.

On Aug. 13, soferet Julie Seltzer will start inspecting and restoring the congregation’s scrolls. Between noon and 3 p.m., congregants are able to schedule time to observe the process. A Pre-Neg Shabbat will start at 6 p.m., followed by the 6:30 p.m. service, with Seltzer.

She will lead a bagels and Torah study session at 9:30 a.m. on Aug. 14, entitled “What’s the Point?” Services will start at 10:30 a.m., followed by a Nosh at Noon and a workshop with Seltzer, “Black Fire on White Fire.”

The day will conclude with Havdalah on the Lake at 7 p.m.

On Aug. 15, Seltzer will continue working on the Torahs, with interactive events and family celebrations from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Seltzer started her first Torah in 2009 after training with Jen Taylor Friedman, who in 2007 became the first woman to finish scribing a Torah. Now living in New York, when Seltzer began scribing she was the scribe-in-residence at the Contemporary Jewish Museum in San Francisco. She has completed four scrolls.

Beth Shalom broke away from B’nai Israel in 1945. Over the past two years, the two congregations, both of which are Reform, have held discussions about a possible merger, with presentations being made to both congregations, and votes scheduled for August.

community “Super Sunday” returns to New Orleans on August 1 Super Sunday makes its post-Covid return, as the Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans holds the annual fundraising event on Aug. 1.

Volunteers will be at the Goldring-Woldenberg Jewish Community Campus in Metairie from 9:15 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. to make calls for the Annual Campaign, reaching hundreds of community members.

The Annual Campaign raises funds to sustain local Jewish institutions, as well as aid Jews in need around the world and in Israel. Last year, despite the pandemic, the campaign raised over $2.6 million, and $700,000 in supplemental giving. All new and increased gifts to the 2021 campaign will be boosted 25 percent by the Goldring/Woldenberg match.

Community members who answer the call on Aug. 1 can make a pledge over the phone, and it can be paid at any point until Dec. 31. Monthly, quarterly and annual payments can also be set up.

There are volunteer opportunities both for making calls and for doing behind-the-scenes work. Non-vaccinated volunteers are asked to wear masks.

Super Sunday 2021 is co-chaired by Dana Shepard, and Kathy and Hal Shepard. Mara Force and Joshua Rubenstein are co-chairs of the 2021 Annual Campaign.

Mazon makes grants to anti-hunger groups in the region As the country begins to emerge from the pandemic, a leading anti-hunger organization is investing nearly $2.5 million in efforts in the United States and Israel to stem the tide in persistent food insecurity that was exacerbated by pandemic-related shutdowns. The newest round of partnership grants from MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger increases its five-year total giving through its Emerging Advocacy Fund to more than $6.4 million, and several groups in the South are benefitting.

“We are witnessing an inflection point for the hunger crisis in the United States and around the world. The COVID-19 pandemic nearly doubled the number of people within the United States facing food insecurity, and local organizations on the front lines of emergency food assistance must also work for sustainable solutions,” said Abby J. Leibman, President and CEO of MAZON. “Since its founding in 1985, MAZON has been committed to addressing food insecurity in the United States through policy change. We are particularly proud of the pioneering role we’ve played in helping to build a strong and resilient anti-hunger advocacy infrastructure in diverse regions across the United States. MAZON is proud to lift up and empower local organizations in 13 of the 15 most food-insecure states in the country, and we look forward to partnering with these organizations in our fight for the structural change we need to end hunger in our communities.”

Grant recipients include Alabama Arise in Montgomery, Alabama Food Bank Association in Huntsville, Feeding Louisiana and Louisiana Budget Project in Baton Rouge, Mississippi Center for Justice in Jackson, and Partnership for a Healthy Mississippi in Flowood.

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community

Institute of Southern Jewish of Greater New Orleans for a series of Slate virtual missions this spring and summer, designed to help you explore Nominating for 2021-2023 orld from the safety and comfort of your home over one-hour sessions on three Sunday mornings. There is nofor the future streamlining Chair: Brian Katz e open toBoard everyone.

Zoom links will be sent to participants in advance.

Vice Board Chairs: Jonny Lake, Melinda Mintz, Shea Soll Secretary: Marc Behar Mission to India | June 13 |Shepard 9:30 a.m.

Treasurer: Kathy

Life

New strategic plan combines departments

Sometimes, a major curveball in the middle of off a strategic planning in India inBoard a Jewish community.

At theatage of 20, after training to be a pilot, he took a year and travelled to process can of Trustees Members Large: be a good thing. ibbutz and Ben developed for cooking. working in London and Caplan a passionJason Gaines Upon returning to India after time spent On July 1, the Goldring/Woldenberg InSusan Hess Keith Kornman successful restaurants before starting an organic farm and culinary school calledstitute A World Away in Alibaug. of Southern Jewish Life in Jackson Diana Mann announced a restructuring that will conh Jewish guide, Joshua, for a "Taste of India." Attendees will also learn about Jewish Indian history.

Pursuant to the Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans By-Laws, Arsolidate the organization’s six departments ticle VI, Section 5 this list is being posted to the community at large. Adinto three, streamline staff positions and Mission to Budapest 8 | 9:30 a.m. may be nominated by petition focus more on customizing outreach to difditional names| August for Trustees and Officers the signatures of at least fifty (50) members the will Federation. dor Herzlcontaining and the Rubik's cube related to Budapest?

Guide,ofAgi, take participants the Jewish ferent through communities.

Nominations by petition shall be submitted, in writing, to the current The tour process beganwas with a Listening Tour hetto which enclosed 70,000 Jews in a space less than a square mile.

This captivating of what one of Secretary (Marc Behar) at least thirty (30) days before the Annual Meeting. and surveys of Jewish communities in 2019. Even the ISJL logo got a Central Europe begins at the Dohany synagogue, the largest synagogue in Europe and the second largest in The Annual Meeting/Celebration is taking place October 6 at 7:00 Consultant Debbie Joseph was brought on makeover in the process, admire the world-famous street including the famous Weeping Willow, Raoul Memorial Park p.m. at the Audubon Teaart, Room. inWallenberg February 2020, and then Covid changed emphasizing the initials al. everything.

Respectfully submitted by: “No one was expecting what 2020 brought,” said Michele Schipper, the Henry Miller, 2020-2021 Federation Nominating Committee Chair Institute’s CEO. Instead of in-person services, they had to retool for a m to register.

The Mission Committee Co-Chairs are Stacey Lutz and Ben Swig.

Questions? Please Federation Nominating Committee Members: virtual world. “It was never a question that we were going to continue Marc Behar Robin Giarrusso Sheila Gold rritarr@jewishnola.com. serving our communities—and it was important to continue the strategic Julie Green Lisa Heller Barbara Kaplinsky planning journey along the way.”

Jonny Lake Austin Marks Dana Shepard The pandemic opened new opportunities, such as a series of programs online that could be shared by multiple communities.

“There were lessons learned during the pandemic, and seeing what we could continue to provide virtually for an organization that was always on the road, always traveling,” Schipper said.

The Institute provides services to Jewish communities in a 13-state region, with a special emphasis on communities with little to no Jewish infrastructure, or a congregation that is mainly lay-led.

The biggest change that came out of the process is paring down the departmental categories that have been added since the Institute was founded in 2000, consolidating them into three service areas: Culture, education and spirituality.

As part of the consolidation, there was a staff realignment, though nobody was let go. Some finite-term positions ended and were not re-filled, and other roles were re-allocated. The number of full-time staff has been reduced from 24 to 18, “a Jewishly-significant number, and one which contributes to efficiency and long-term sustainability.”

Another staff change came with the renaming of the Education Fellows, who spend two years with the Institute, visiting congregations and communities that use the Institute’s standardized religious school curriculum. While the program has been tremendously successful and popular, the name has led to confusion, with future employers not knowing what the term meant, and often assuming it was an academic internship or an unpaid position, instead of being a full-time position at a non-profit organization.

The former Fellows will now be called Program Associates, which “aligns well with other nonprofit positions title-wise, it reflects that in addition to ‘education’ they are gaining lots of hands-on programming experience, and the job title will hopefully translate clearly on resumes as well.”

The Institute has also moved from its large office space into the former preschool area at Beth Israel, combining Jackson’s Jewish institutions under one roof.

As Covid restrictions are lifting, Schipper said communities are still receptive to virtual programming. While they plan to return to the road

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July 2021 • Southern Jewish Life

community this fall, assuming there are no major issues with new variants, they are examining how virtual programs will fit into the mix. “We’re going to find a nice balance between in-person services and resources, and virtual programming,” she said, noting that they just had their second virtual Educators Conference, an annual event that had previously been held in person and was a requirement for communities using the curriculum.

As many organizations shut down during the pandemic, Schipper said she is “thrilled” that the Institute was able to keep operating and provide “great programming.”

The agency is “running on all cylinders ahead” and the recent changes will help ensure “sustainability into the future.”

Jewish War Veterans holding national conference in New Orleans The largest gathering of Jewish American military personnel and veterans in the nation will be in New Orleans next month as the Jewish War Veterans of the United States of America holds its 126th annual national convention.

Hundreds of delegates from around the country will learn from fellow veterans, network in the Jewish American military and veteran community, and discuss items on the legislative agenda.

The gathering will be headquartered at the Omni Royal Orleans Hotel. There will also be events connected to JWV’s National Museum of American Jewish Military History.

After committee meetings on Aug. 15, the convention’s formal opening will be at 11:30 a.m. on Aug. 16. At 4 p.m., there will be a presentation by Marina Jackman, president and CEO of the Global War on Terrorism Memorial Foundation.

On Aug. 18, there will be an afternoon presentation on veteran suicide prevention, and at 10 a.m. on Aug. 19 there will be a rally about the issue.

All delegates are invited to the Vietnam Veterans Night Out, Aug. 18 at 6 p.m. at Ralph Brennan’s Red Fish Grill. A maximum of 75 reservations will be taken by Aug. 12.

The convention concludes on Aug. 19 with elections and the National Commanders Reception and Banquet, during which Jeffrey Sacks will complete his term as national commander.

Last year’s convention was scheduled to be held in Jacksonville, Fla., but was moved online due to the pandemic.

New Orleans is the home of JWV Ben Katz Post 580, which has been very active in recent years.

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ADL anti-bias training meets sudden resistance as parents push for Mountain Brook schools to “disassociate” from group After a city council meeting where Mountain Brook residents on both sides made remarks about the recent decision by city schools to disassociate from the Anti-Defamation League’s anti-bias training, opponents of the decision are fighting back, though the school system insists it is moving forward on formulating its own anti-bias curriculum.

On June 30, a group calling itself Mountain Brook Schools Alumni for Diversity started collecting signatures on an open letter to the Board of Education, to “express enthusiastic support” for the Diversity Committee and to “express concern” over the decision to disassociate from the ADL “in order to appease an extremely vocal minority of community members.”

The “vocal minority” refers to a group that attended the June 14 Mountain Brook School Board meeting to express opposition to the board’s relationship with the ADL, which has done faculty anti-bias training since February, and the ADL’s No Place for Hate curriculum was being considered for the coming year.

On June 23, the group issued a letter with about 225 signatures, then followed it up with an addendum that had another 400 signatures.

The signatures came from an email “survey” that apparently was sent to hundreds of parents but very few members of the Jewish community, and there were few if any Jewish signatories to the June 23 letter. This publication has thus far been unable to obtain the addendum.

The letter expressed “serious questions” about the Mountain Brook Schools Diversity Committee that was established last year, and referred to the ADL as a “political organization” whose positions belie its claim to be non-partisan.

The alumni letter responds with “concern” over the decision to disassociate from the ADL, “which has successfully worked with hundreds of school districts.”

As of July 4, the alumni open letter has about 1800 signatures, almost all of which include alumni or parent affiliation details. A second, similar letter began on July 2 for others in the Mountain Brook community to sign.

In addition, MB Listens, an independent grassroots organization that promotes dialogue and diversity in the community, has been soliciting stories from the community, where students “have been marginalized in our community by acts of exclusion, bullying, prejudices, and/or bias because of your identity,” and is compiling them to present to the school system’s leadership.

“We have already heard from so many of you, and your stories and experiences are both heartbreaking and powerful,” MB Listens posted on Facebook. “It is hard for us to understand why some in our community continue to try and minimize this issue, and in some cases deny that a problem even exists at all.”

Not one isolated instance Mountain Brook is the richest town in Alabama, and is over 97 percent white. The Birmingham suburb has by far the largest Jewish community in the state, as when families started moving “over the mountain” into the suburbs in the For a more detailed 1950s, there was an “unwritten understandseries of articles, and ing” that Jews moved to Mountain Brook updates from after but “did not” move to neighboring Vestavia. our print deadline, Even in Mountain Brook, at first there were visit sjlmag.com some neighborhood developments to where 14

July 2021 • Southern Jewish Life

Jews were urged not to move, and Jews were not members of the Birmingham or Mountain Brook Country Clubs until recently.

While some backing the petition against the ADL assert that the entire push to have a diversity committee and bias training came from an isolated May 2020 incident — a video where a teen had swastikas drawn on his back, and some of those in the video were from Mountain Brook, many community members took to social media to share their experiences with antisemitism in Mountain Brook schools, from decades ago to the present.

Among the stories were fellow students giving Heil Hitler salutes to Jewish students, pitching pennies on the floor at Jewish students figuring the “cheap Jews” would eagerly pick them up, or swastikas scrawled around the schools.

The Alumni for Diversity letter said the 2020 incident was not isolated, and personal experiences of issues “long embedded in the culture of Mountain Brook schools” include “anti-Black racism, anti-Semitism, harassment based on gender and sexuality, and other forms of racism and intolerance” by students, along with “particular faculty and administrators.”

The letter also notes that their education in Mountain Brook schools included “experiences that perpetuated historical myths, erased the contributions of non-white people, and failed to address practices that were profoundly exclusionary,” and “obscured historical facts about race and racism and avoided addressing racial discrimination as an ongoing reality,” with repercussions when they moved out into a more diverse world.

For most of their existence, the now-defunct fraternities and sororities at Mountain Brook High School excluded Jewish students, justifying the policy through the existence of BBYO in the Jewish community.

community Some Jewish parents have reported that their students wrote college admission essays on coping with antisemitic experiences in school.

Rabbi Scott Hausman-Weiss, who moved from Birmingham 10 years ago after serving 12 years at Temple Emanu-El, said it was “a shock” to him when he started visiting Mountain Brook Junior High during lunch, “mostly as a show of support for the Jewish kids who often felt like outsiders when Christian youth ministers would make a big showing of their presence at the school during lunchtime.”

Though he had approached the administration about the overall inappropriate nature of the clergy visits, the school resisted making any changes.

The first time Hausman-Weiss sat down with some Jewish students in the lunchroom, he heard “clinking” sounds. At first he ignored it, then turned around when it happened again.

The third time, “one of the Jewish students said quite bluntly, ‘oh yeah, sometimes they throw pennies at us. We just try to laugh it off mostly’.”

Emanu-El Rabbi Adam Wright, who spoke about the issue during the July 2 Shabbat service, remembers how he had a meeting with religious school parents in the fall of 2018, after he first arrived in Birmingham. “They reflected to me their frustration with the school system, year after year after year, antisemitic comments… church groups coming in and proselytizing, using theology as a way to inflict fear and concern among Jewish students,” and that he had heard from alumni that “this is the same ethos that has been happening in Mountain Brook” for a long time.

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What and whether to teach Supporters of the petition have bristled at the idea that they completely oppose diversity training, they just feel that the ADL has become a “highly partisan group” over the last few years, following the retirement of Abe Foxman. They say the ADL promotes “Critical Race Theory, unfettered late-term abortion rights and expansive immigration policies.”

Conversely, in 2018 ADL was supposed to be part of a national anti-bias training for Starbucks employees, but was dropped after leftwing groups protested that ADL was hostile to people of color because of criticism of Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan, was “pro-cop,” refused to endorse Black Lives Matter because of leaders’ anti-Israel positions, and in the words of Anti Police-Terror Project co-founder Cat Brooks, “You can’t be a piece of an anti-bias training when you openly support a racist, oppressive and brutal colonization of Palestine.”

The June 23 letter states that “we fully support the goal of respecting individual differences, we condemn illegal discrimination and bigotry,

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community including anti-Semitism, and we oppose bullying and harassment in our schools,” but “many divisive political decisions and activities occur under the cover of promoting diversity.”

Wright said he has heard from parents in the school system who were uncomfortable with ADL program but still want “a comprehensive diversity curriculum being taught at Mountain Brook schools, and this is important to hear,” and that not liking the ADL “does not make one antisemitic.”

But he added that “Mountain Brook Jewish families deserve to be at the table and deserve to be heard,” and going after a historic organization that was founded to protect Jews, regardless of one’s opinion of its current leanings, would prompt a strong response. “What did you expect would happen… of course we’re going to internalize this.”

The Alumni for Diversity letter stated “this work can only be done successfully if done in partnership with outside organizations with expertise and experience in these areas,” and they are “alarmed” at efforts to create “an in-house approach, without the consultation of organizations and experts that have been working on these complex challenges for decades.”

Some also pointed to how the June 23 letter

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July 2021 • Southern Jewish Life

opposing ADL involvement ended, with a plea for the school board to not be “distracted” from “rigorous academic curricula, mainstream extracurricular activities and highly competitive athletic programs” that have kept the school system toward the top of state rankings.

Looking at the national picture, Aaron Ahlquist, ADL director of community engagement for the 11-state Southern division, said there are efforts in several state legislatures to ban the teaching of Critical Race Theory. In some states, there has been civil debate over the controversial philosophy, in other states the debate has been less so.

Wright noted that when it comes to diversity curricula, the Jewish community has to be “cautious.” He cited the California bill requiring the teaching of ethnic studies, which has led to a two-year passionate debate over a curriculum “filled with violent role models and antisemites” and ignores or minimizes Jews, and includes anti-Israel elements.

He also mentioned a Seattle curriculum that is “harmful against the Jewish people.” A fifth grade mandatory curriculum on Native American history compares their struggle to that of the Palestinians against Israel, and the lesson was withdrawn after controversy

However, No Place for Hate does not come anywhere close to those types of curricula. Allison Padilla-Goodman, vice president of ADL’s Southern division, said No Place for Hate “is a totally flexible program, it meets schools where they are,” letting them do diversity education on their own terms through three projects over the course of a year.

“There are a lot of false claims about what we do, and what we did with Mountain Brook,” Padilla-Goodman said, adding that she has never seen this kind of opposition to No Place for Hate. About 200 schools in the region use No Place for Hate, including the entire Huntsville system.

A 12-page anonymous “Mountain Brook Families… Resource Guide to the Anti-Defamation League” that was apparently circulated to the same list as the original email petition had interpretations of ADL materials that “were wildly off and jumped to some pretty intense conclusions,” she said. “It’s really unfortunate it has all got twisted and pushed out of its form.”

Another point of contention is that the ADL has not publicly released all its training materials which, like any other curriculum, are proprietary. Padilla-Goodman said the vast majority of the information presented is on the ADL

community website.

State Rep. Paul DeMarco said the Alabama Legislature needs to prevent similar situations in the future by not allowing taxpayer funding for programs where parents are unable to have full access to program materials.

On June 28, the Mountain Brook City Council meeting was packed by concerned residents who wanted to have their say on the topic.

There were two main categories of speakers.

Some residents believe that when it comes to bigotry, antisemitism, racism and bullying in the Mountain Brook school system, such behavior by students is isolated.

The other was made up of citizens who think that the Mountain Brook schools are plagued by these problems big-time and that diversity training from outside consultants is badly needed.

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Moving Forward On June 24, Mountain Brook School Superintendent Dicky Barlow said in a statement that “discord surrounding the resources has become a significant distraction, and we believe that we can more effectively continue our work independently of the ADL,” developing its own framework with the input of students, parents, teachers and school administrators. He had previously said there would be no teaching of Critical Race Theory in Mountain Brook schools. Currently, it is not taught in any Alabama schools.

Wright said Alabama is a prime location for experiential learning about diversity and civil rights. “Go to Selma,” he urged. “Get on a bus and make personal experiences.”

He urged those who do not think there is much of a problem in Mountain Brook schools to “put yourselves in our shoes for once, to empathize with us just for this moment.”

Danny Cohn, CEO of the Birmingham Jewish Federation, is a member of the Diversity Committee that was put together following the May 2020 video. “I saw this as an opportunity for real change, even though I was told not to get my hopes up,” he said in a note to the community on July 2.

He said the Federation is “continuing to pursue an active dialogue with the school district so that we can indeed effect the change that so many of us long to see.”

Whether or not the path forward includes ADL involvement, “I urge you not to lose sight of the result – to create a more diverse, tolerant, and accepting atmosphere for our children,” Cohn said. “The path to get there may not have been what we thought it would be, but it’s important for us to walk that path even with obstacles thrown in front of us until we get the results we so desperately need.”

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community Repairs from Hurricane Laura progress slowly for Lake Charles’ Temple Sinai After an incredibly difficult year, Temple Sinai in Lake Charles hopes to have High Holy Day services in its sanctuary on Sept. 6. But for the congregation of just over 60 families, it has been a long process.

In addition to having its services go virtual because of Covid, the Temple Sinai building suffered damage from Hurricane Laura last August, and the recovery process has been slow, not just for them but for so many across the area. Sinai President Joel Davidson said for many, including the Temple, the insurance companies have been “brutal” and government funds also have yet to be released.

Sinai has filed suit against its insurer, GuideOne, which specializes in houses of worship. Temple Sinai suffered mostly water damage, coming in through the library roof.

The damage had to be mitigated immediately through removing floor coverings and wet sheetrock. The library contained many historical works that had been contributed over the decades, and Davidson said “we were able to save a lot of those.”

An initial insurance payout allowed them to secure the building by putting on a new roof, but there is a lot more to be done. The first priority is to repair the sanctuary, and “we’re working our tails off to have that done by Sept. 6.”

In addition to the insurance issues causing delays, supply chain problems are dragging out repairs, along with labor issues stemming from Covid and “so much damage in one market area.”

A couple blocks from the Temple, the city’s iconic Capital One building is still unusable, with plenty of plywood where green windows used to be.

Government buildings have also had very little work done.

Davidson said that during the pandemic, when everyone was staying home, the lack of a sanctuary wasn’t as much of an issue, but now that people are gathering again, “we really would like to worship in our own house.”

On June 25, the congregation had its first in-person service since Covid hit — meeting in the social hall at the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd. Davidson said there is a long-standing friendship between the two congregations, as Temple Sinai opened its doors when Good Shepherd lost its building to a hurricane — in 1918.

For the rest of the summer, they plan to hold in-person services at the church every other week, with an online service on the alternate weeks.

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July 2021 • Southern Jewish Life

Temple Sinai now sports a new roof, but more repairs needed Davidson said having services online has had the benefit of attracting many people who have left the area but have roots and connections, and might be inclined to support the congregation. Conversely, some members who lost their homes have moved to other communities — and one week before the hurricane hit, the congregation closed on a home for Rabbi Barry Weinstein, who was going to move from Baton Rouge to become the resident rabbi. Now, he is staying in Baton Rouge and continuing to serve the congregation remotely and on a visiting basis, and they are selling the house, which was damaged in the hurricane.

Davidson said that after the sanctuary is done, the next phase will be the social hall and kitchen, with the religious school wing being done last, as the congregation has no school-age children. He envisions expanding the library into a community-wide resource for all faiths, as a way of continuing to ensure a presence and visibility for Temple Sinai in a community that isn’t seeing its Jewish community grow.

“We have a lot of public support to see us back on our feet and continuing to have a synagogue in Southwest Louisiana,” Davidson said.

community CJFS CARES is in person again After a 15-month hiatus, the CJFS CARES dementia respite program in Birmingham is back in person, as of June 7.

“It’s hard to express what a relief it is to everyone that we are back together in our community,” said CARES Program Director Pam Leonard,.

“One day this week, we were in the middle of exercise, and a participant just stopped and said, ‘Oh, it is so good to be back.’ I think that’s how we all feel.”

CARES, which launched in 2015, was suspended starting in March 2020, due to the Covid pandemic. The program offered virtual music, art and exercise programming, as well as social opportunities for participants via Zoom, though nothing matches the in-person activities.

The caregiver support group changed from a monthly in-person offering to a Zoom program offered twice each week. In addition, special funding from United Way of Central Alabama and the Community Foundation of Birmingham enabled Leonard to provide one-on-one caregiver support at no charge.

Caregiver Anne Bloomer said her husband, Joe, is simply able to do more when he is at CARES than when he is at home. “There’s more activity at CARES than we can provide at home, and he gets opportunities to socialize, which makes him happy. I think that at CARES, he’s getting back the ability to pay more attention to what’s going on. And when he comes home, he’s happy. He’s energized, and he’s more present in the moment. I’m hoping to see more of that.”

Joan Burns had been attending CARES for about two years when the pandemic hit. “When she wasn’t getting up and going the CARES anymore, she would basically sleep until lunchtime,” said her husband, Bob Sehlinger. He wondered if Joan would have trouble getting into her preCOVID routine; but he found she’s still excited to go to CARES. “The first day we took her back, and she saw Pam and Lise, she was so happy. I know she looks forward to going and she really enjoys it, and I know it’s very good for her.”

The program is meeting at a reduced capacity and is open only to those who are vaccinated. The respite care is offered Monday to Thursday, for those affected by mild to moderate dementia.

Welcome the Stranger Birmingham plans training for helping refugees The Birmingham Jewish Community Relations Council and Levite Jewish Community Center, in partnership with the social action committees of Temple Beth-El and Temple Emanu-El, are hosting a community-wide volunteer training session for the Alabama Interfaith Refugee Partnership. The training will be at the N.E. Miles Jewish Day School on Aug. 4 from 6 to 8 p.m. Dinner will be available starting at 5:30 p.m., and for those not comfortable in going out, virtual training will be available.

The Partnership is an interfaith group of religious leaders and laypersons, as well as representatives of other community groups who have come together for the purpose of helping refugees and asylum-seekers, in light of the current migration crisis that has displaced millions of people.

There are three primary ways to be involved. One is to serve on a committee, with choices including advocacy, communications, direct support, education, finance, and fundraising and outreach. Individuals can also be part of a Care Team, providing direct support to families. All Care Team volunteers must complete a background check and pay the $40 cost.

The third way is to be part of a contact list for when there is a situation or need that has to be dealt with immediately.

Registration with JCRC is required for either option, and the in-person option is recommended only for those who are fully vaccinated.

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community Hadassah New Orleans presents online series about Jews in music Hadassah New Orleans is holding a series of programs on the wide range of Jewish music.

The six-part series is taking place on Sundays at 4 p.m. over Zoom, discussing how Jewish music goes back to Biblical days, and how music has been influenced by a Jewish presence, and how others have influenced Jewish music.

The programs are free to those who register.

On July 11, the series began with an exploration of Broadway, with theatre critic Alan Smason leading a discussion of favorite Jewish Broadway composers.

Cindy Denn discusses the recent renaissance in Jewish liturgical music, during the July 18 session. On July 25, there will be an examination of one aspect of the wide range of current Israeli music. Suzanne Stone will present the story of the Jerusalem Youth Choir, an Israeli-Palestinian ensemble of Jerusalem youth, along with six of their songs.

On Aug. 1, Helen Stone will discuss how jazz, an African-American musical form, has been influenced by Jews locally, nationally and internationally. She will present examples of that collaboration.

Denn returns to discuss Klezmer music on Aug. 8, and the series concludes with Pop and Rock ‘n Roll on Aug. 15, with Harriet Hillson presenting examples.

The Latest News… www.sjlmag.com

New Orleans Eruv established After years of planning, the New Orleans eruv is up, making the Garden District and Uptown into a united space.

Rabbi Yochanan Rivkin of Anshe Sfard announced the eruv’s completion following a July 6 inspection by a national expert.

On Shabbat, carrying items from a private domain to a semi-public domain is prohibited, but an eruv merges everything into one domain.

For those who observe that Shabbat restriction, carrying items becomes permitted when there is a proper eruv, a defined physical boundary around an area. Without an eruv, one is not permitted to carry objects beyond the home, making the existence of an eruv a significant consideration for observant families looking to move to an area.

In many communities, an eruv consists mainly of poles and uninterrupted wires that must be inspected each week to make sure there are no gaps. In many cases, existing utility poles are designated, necessitating coordination with power companies and city officials.

The area’s first eruv was completed in Metairie in 2008, surrounding the Jewish institutions along West Esplanade and surrounding neighborhoods. In 2014, Rabbi David Polsky, then the rabbi of Anshe Sfard, spent several days with Rabbi Mendel Rivkin exploring a possible eruv perimeter in New Orleans.

Over the last nine months, Rabbi Yochanan Rivkin and Ari Krischer spearheaded the project, leading a team of volunteers and working with Entergy New Orleans, and Councilmembers Joseph Giarrusso and Jay Banks.

The eruv boundary is roughly along the Orleans parish line Uptown, Felicity Street downtown, Interstate 10 on Lakeside and Tchoupitoulas Street on the Riverside.

A volunteer “Eruv Corps of Engineers” is being recruited so the eruv can be visually inspected each week to make sure there are no breaches.

As the New Orleans eruv was announced, it was also announced that repairs need to be undertaken on the Metairie eruv and it would be unavailable for a couple of weeks, starting July 8.

Last October, the eruv was down briefly because of damage from Hurricane Zeta.

Anshe Sfard is planning to hold an eruv education event in the near future, to teach the community about the concept and how it may be used.

Approximate boundary of the New Orleans eruv 20

July 2021 • Southern Jewish Life

community New Orleans Jewish community names full-time security director With the hiring of its first Community Security Director, the New Orleans Jewish community has taken a new step in launching its Community Security Initiative.

Jimmy Stewart, a 35-year law enforcement veteran, was named to the position on July 12. He will work in partnership with the Secure Community Network to develop and administer a comprehensive community-wide program that provides threat mitigation, security consultation, and trainings to Jewish institutions throughout the region.

SCN is the official safety and security organization of the Jewish community in North America.

On Aug. 2, he will assume the role and begin working on plans for the upcoming High Holy Days.

New Orleans joins the growing network of Federations and communities partnering with SCN to launch community-based security initiatives designed around an “All Threats, All Hazards” approach to preparedness, safety, security and resiliency across the community. The program will be connected to SCN’s national network, providing direct access to the National Jewish Security Operations Command Center, SCN’s Duty Desk and Intelligence Analysts, as well as best practice resources and support related to policies, procedures, physical security, facility assessments, training and incident response.

“We are thrilled to have Jimmy join our Federation as the first Community Security Director,” said Federation CEO Arnie Fielkow. “With the dramatic increase in antisemitic incidents and acts of hate over the past several years, Jewish communal security has never been more important.

Jimmy’s tremendous knowledge, expertise, and law enforcement relationships and partnerships will help keep our local community safe and secure.”

Prior to joining the FBI in 1996, Stewart spent 13 years with the New Orleans Police Department, working a variety of assignments in patrol, narcotics, vice, intelligence and homicide. Most recently, Stewart served as Chief of Police for the City of Hammond, where he oversaw improvements to Internal Affairs, expanded diversity training, and increased overall officer training as well as community engagement and outreach.

He also has 21 years of experience with the Federal Bureau of Investigation. As the Supervisory Resident Agent in Pensacola, Florida, Stewart supervised all criminal programs, including violent crime, public corruption, civil rights, health care fraud, and cyber-crime, and oversaw a Joint Terrorism Task Force to address counterterrorism and domestic terrorism investigations in the territory. In addition to his domestic portfolio, Stewart completed two tours overseas supporting counterterrorism investigations and activities in Islamabad, Pakistan.

Michael Masters, CEO of SCN, said, “It’s critical to strengthen the safety and security of the Jewish community given the threats we regularly face.

The partnership provides a professional security operation to the greater New Orleans community that is rooted in best practice and keenly aware of and responsive to the needs of the Jewish community. We are honored to partner with the Federation and look forward to working with them on enhancing the safety and security of the places attended by the New Orleans community.”

Stewart will serve as an expert advisor to Jewish institutions such as synagogues and day schools and establish a system of collaboration, coordination, and communication among organizations. He will also serve as a liaison to local, state, and federal law enforcement and represent the Federation and the Jewish community in public security forums.

“I am excited to join the Federation and contribute to the safety and security of the greater New Orleans Jewish community,” Stewart noted.

“I hope to use my extensive law enforcement and security background to protect the community from all forms of threats.”

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Dynamic community leader, gifted attorney and beloved friend of the Birmingham Jewish community Lenora Pate died June 23 after struggling with illness.

Her funeral was June 28 at Elmwood Cemetery. She is the first person to be buried in Temple Beth-El’s new area for interfaith couples. Rabbi Jonathan Miller, rabbi emeritus at Temple Emanu-El, performed the service. It was followed by a celebration of Lenora’s life at Dawson Memorial Baptist Church, where she was active for decades.

Lenora, a devout Christian, was married to Steven Brickman, a longtime Jewish community volunteer leader. They were partners in every facet of their civic, philanthropic and professional lives, with both of them working at the law firm of Sirote and Permutt, now Dentons Sirote, for nearly 40 years.

Lenora served as chair of the firm’s health care practice group and was constantly recognized as one of the state’s outstanding attorneys. Her record of civic and legal achievements is lengthy and reflects decades of leadership.

“She was the kindest, most gifted and most unique person I have ever known,” said Steven, reflecting on her passing. “She made me a better person and inspired me every single day of our marriage.”

Along with her dedication to her faith and the many important roles that she played in the Christian community, Lenora was a towering friend of the Birmingham Jewish community and an ardent defender of Israel.

She supported the Jewish community with passion and distinction; co-chairing a fundraising campaign to help the Israeli people respond to terror, becoming the first Christian to serve on the Birmingham Jewish Federation’s board of directors, visiting Israel multiple times, and participating in programs and giving generously to Jewish community causes.

Lenora was a pioneer in the area of Jewish-Christian relations, and was a leader in deepening ties and promoting alliances between the two communities.

Role Model Her leadership helped motivate the state of Alabama to adopt one of the strongest anti-BDS measures in the nation. BDS — Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions — is an antisemitic movement designed to weaken and isolate the world’s only majority-Jewish country.

Lenora was a deeply intelligent person and a role model for female lawyers throughout the city.

She was capable of conversing knowledgeably about countless topics, and was always graceful and gracious. She had a contagious spirit and a powerful way of uplifting people.

Yet despite her vast accomplishments, she radiated humility, drawing people to her with a warm smile, genuineness and an open heart.

A Birmingham-born schoolteacher turned attorney, she never held back. She ran for governor, served as a state of Alabama cabinet official, and was known as a “doer” who, when it came to causes she believed in, could move mountains.

Behind the “public Lenora,” was a loving wife, devoted mother and doting grandmother. She was fun, funny and someone with whom it was a pleasure to be with.

The state of Alabama, which benefitted from her many civic endeavors, will miss this unique servant leader, as will the Christian and Jewish communities, Lenora’s family and her many friends.

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July 2021 • Southern Jewish Life

community

The Perfect Place…

From the background

Thorne’s new book highlights the untold stories of white, Jewish allies during civil rights movement

to say I do.

By Javacia Harris Bowser For The Birmingham Times

When you think of the Birmingham Civil Rights movement of the 1960s, certain names immediately come to mind: The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth, and the Rev. Ralph Abernathy, to name a few. But there are others that award-winning author T.K. Thorne wants you to know.

In her new book, “Behind the Magic Curtain: Secrets, Spies, and Unsung White Allies of Birmingham’s Civil Rights Days” (New South Books), Thorne reveals little-known and lesser-told stories of white residents who helped Birmingham’s Black community fight for equality and justice.

Many of the stories highlighted in the book are about members of Birmingham’s Jewish community, such as attorney Abe Berkowitz, an outspoken supporter of civil rights who didn’t hesitate to confront segregationist Public Safety Commissioner Theophilus Eugene “Bull” Connor; and Betty Loeb, who led the local chapter of the National Council of Jewish Women in efforts to improve laws, voting rights and social welfare — which included providing books, supplies and free eye exams to children, regardless of race.

When Black Birmingham attorney J. Mason Davis couldn’t dine at a certain lunch spot where other downtown lawyers could because it served “Whites Only,” Jewish attorneys Karl Friedman and Jack E. Held lunched with Davis from the vending machine in the courthouse basement, establishing a friendship that grew over the years. They would go on to become partners at Birmingham’s Sirote and Permutt law firm.

When Thorne was approached in 2013 by a group of local lawyers and leaders about writing “Behind the Magic Curtain,” the author was intimidated by the proposal.

“I was overwhelmed,” she said. “The scope of what they were asking seemed huge.”

Still, the group thought Thorne would be the perfect writer for the project. She thought she’d been tapped for this undertaking because of her book “Last Chance for Justice,” which follows the investigation into the 1963 Sixteenth Street Baptist Church bombing.

“I thought, ‘These guys think I’m a civil rights expert,’ which I was not,” said Thorne, who learned that her historical novel, “Noah’s Wife,” had won them over.

“One of the gentlemen said, ‘Anybody that can write a book about Noah’s wife thousands of years ago and make me believe that’s what really happened can write this book’,” Thorne said with a laugh.

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“True Calling” Born Teresa Katz, Thorne grew up in Montgomery. The oldest of three (her sister is a graphic artist and glass designer who lives in Alabama, and her brother works for a Johns Hopkins physics lab in Maryland), Thorne didn’t want to be a writer or a police officer when she was younger. She had dreams of becoming an astronaut.

“What I really wanted to do was meet aliens,” she said. “I thought that July 2021 • Southern Jewish Life

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community would be the coolest thing.”

Her father told her that her eyesight wasn’t sharp enough for the job.

“He didn’t mention that only male fighter pilots in the U.S. Air Force were astronauts at that time,” she said. “I was pretty crushed, and I had no idea what I wanted to do from there.”

Eventually, Thorne discovered a love for writing. “From the time I was three or four years old, I loved telling stories, and I was always the kid on the block that directed the plays,” she said. “By the time I was 15, I knew writing was my true calling of my true self, but I also realized that I wasn’t going to be able to make a living doing that, so I would have to do that while I did something else.”

And Thorne wanted that “something else” to be about helping others.

“My mom was very much involved in making the world better,” Thorne said of her mother, who was a lobbyist for the Alabama League of Women Voters and an advocate for environmental issues who also worked for education, constitutional and judicial reform, in addition to fighting to end poll taxes. “That was my example in life.”

Thorne, a retired Birmingham Police Department captain and former director of City Action Partnership, has authored four books. Her award-winning historical novels “Noah’s Wife” and “Angels at the Gate” reimagine classic Bible stories from the perspectives of unnamed, briefly-mentioned women in the book of Genesis — the wives of Noah and Lot. With “Last Chance for Justice,” Thorne delved into nonfiction. She also tried her hand at writing a tale of murder, mystery, and magic with her book “House of Rose.”

Thorne earned a master’s degree in social work from the University of Alabama. After getting married, she and her husband moved to Birmingham in 1976, and her studies led her to the BPD to research the force’s

social work program and later to work as an intern.

After finishing college, Thorne was hired to be a grant writer for the department. To better understand what the officers needed, she had to ride along with them — and she fell in love with it. “I think the thing that attracted me to it was you never knew what was going to happen next.”

She signed up for the police academy and would go on to serve for more than two decades with the BPD, retiring as a precinct captain.

Thorne, 67, believes her police background helped her with writing and researching “Behind the Magic Curtain.”

“Part of researching this book [involved] being a detective, so I chased down things from that perspective,” she said. “I want to know what the facts are, I want to know the truth is, so that mindset helped.”

She worked for nearly eight years on the book, for which she interviewed 50 people, read several books by people involved in the movement, and reviewed videos housed at the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute.

Woven throughout “Behind the Magic Curtain” are the firsthand recollections of Tom Lankford, a Birmingham News reporter who was embedded with law enforcement during the 1960s.

“I was a police officer in a transitional period, so I heard stories about and knew the culture of what he was dealing with,” Thorne said.

Lankford was part of the group that approached Thorne about writing the book, and his captivating stories helped convince her to take on the project. Once she started reading his notes, she said, “I was hooked.”

Looking Back to Move Forward Thorne hopes that as her book sheds light on unsung heroes of history it will help readers better understand the present and pave the way for a

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July 2021 • Southern Jewish Life

community brighter future.

“In the 1960s, racism was in your face, and it was embedded in the law,” she said. “Now the white community has a hard time seeing it because it’s not like it was when my generation grew up. As a person who’s not affected by it, it’s taken me a long time to figure out what is meant by structural racism, and I’m still learning.”

Thorne hopes “Behind the Magic Curtain” will open people’s eyes to the roots of the systemic racism that continues to plague our society, breeding injustice and unrest.

Richard Friedman, associate editor of Southern Jewish Life magazine and former executive director of the Birmingham Jewish Federation, believes Thorne’s new book is much needed.

“The Civil Rights story is not just history. It has a continued relevance to the way we live our lives,” he said, adding that sharing little-known stories of white allies can show people that they can make a difference.

“We tend to think of the great battles of our time being waged by those soldiers who are out front, and they play a very important role, no question,” Friedman added. “But the reality is these battles are for the civic health of America, and the people behind the scenes play a much larger role than we tend to think.”

Friedman believes highlighting the Civil Rights movement contributions of Birmingham’s Jewish community, who were also grappling with antisemitism in the South, is particularly important.

“It’s a lesson in that, even as you are navigating your own predicament, you can’t become immune and insensitive to those locked in a larger struggle and a deeper struggle,” he said.

Thorne agrees and hopes her book urges others to be brave and fight for what’s right today.

“If those people could stand up, then we need to also,” she said. “We need to not be silent now.”

Legends, Lessons and Legacies SJL hosts forum with Thorne, children of leaders

By Richard Friedman Many of the “lanterns” that helped light the way for the Birmingham Civil Rights movement came from the city’s Jewish community at a time when Jews in Birmingham were facing their own challenges.

That, and the courage that some of Birmingham’s best known Jewish leaders displayed during these turbulent times, were highlighted in a recent online talk by local author TK Thorne.

Thorne, in her new book “Behind the Magic Curtain: Secrets, Spies, and Unsung White Allies of Birmingham’s Civil Rights Days,” explores the little-known behind-the-scenes roles played by white allies in Birmingham during the struggle for Civil Rights in the 1950s and 1960s, including leaders in the Jewish community. The book was released by NewSouth Books on June 29.

“Legends, Lessons and Legacies” were the themes of the June 21 Zoom program that featured Thorne. The program was sponsored by Southern Jewish Life and Israel InSight magazines and the Atlanta Israel Coalition.

During the Civil Rights era, many in Birmingham’s small Jewish community were conflicted over what their role should be, as Thorne explains in her well-researched book.

Memories of the Holocaust, which took place in the 1940s, were still raw along with incidents of antisemitism in the Deep South.

As Thorne notes in her book, Jews themselves were not fully accepted into white society, faced antisemitism and ran the risk of jeopardizing themselves, their families and their businesses and professions if they publicly aligned themselves with African Americans and others advocating and demonstrating for Civil Rights.

This backdrop is what makes the stories of Karl Friedman, Rabbi MilJuly 2021 • Southern Jewish Life

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community ton Grafman, Abe Berkowitz and other Jews highlighted in the book not only “lanterns” for the movement, as Thorne said, but also beacons, especially for the Jewish community.

Thorne was joined on the program by the children of Friedman, Grafman and Berkowitz, three figures she highlighted in her book for their bold and brave actions. Joining her were Richard Berkowitz, Stephen Grafman and Tracy Friedman Stein, who offered perspectives on the leadership their fathers provided during these challenging times.

The program also highlighted the work these three men were doing at the same time on behalf of Zionism and Israel.

Southern Jewish Life Editor and Publisher Larry Brook served as moderator, from the board room at B’nai Zion in Shreveport.

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July 2021 • Southern Jewish Life

Karl Friedman’s daughter, Tracy Stein, who now lives in Houston, was a young girl at the time but vividly remembered Civil Rights meetings at her home with African Americans, her father battling tirelessly for greater rights for African Americans, and a bullet being shot through their window because of her dad’s activities. He never replaced the pane with the bullet hole.

Stephen Grafman, a resident of suburban Washington, has chronicled his dad’s career with love, admiration and attention to detail.

He said Rabbi Grafman was his “best friend.”

He painted his father accurately as a force for good in Birmingham and recounted his father’s bold willingness to stand up publicly for what he believed.

Abe Berkowitz’ son Richard, who lives in Savannah, portrayed his dad as fearless, resolute in the pursuit of justice, unafraid and highly skilled and determined. This also is the how many who knew him perceived him.

Fearless and resolute describes all three men well and though they are all deceased, their memories continue to inspire those who knew them.

Based on attendance and feedback from the Atlanta Israel Coalition, which managed the Zoom program, the online event was quite successful.

“The attendance rate was an unbelievable 69 percent, that is 221 of the 318 registered attended,” reported AIC’s Lee Tanenbaum. “The usual performance rates are 25 to 30 percent. AIC usually gets 45 to 50 percent, which AIC’s Zoom rep says is wonderful.”

As part of its expanding coverage and impact, Southern Jewish Life plans to host similar online programs in the future.

For those who missed the program, “Legends, Lessons & Legacies” can be viewed on the AIC YouTube channel.

community Long-time New Orleans JFS Clinical Services director passes the torch Eriksen starts care management business After 10 years as director of clinical services at Jewish Family Service of Greater New Orleans, Rachel Lazarus Eriksen has stepped down to start her own business.

Michelle Beard is succeeding Eriksen; she was previously the Intern Program Supervisor and a therapist at JFS. As a social service nonprofit organization, JFS is primarily known for mental health care services and programs. Beard describes her new position as “ensuring all of the counseling and case management at JFS is high quality, respectful to the client, and provided in an ethical way. I also consider possible programs that we can offer to people in need.”

Beard comes to the position through a circuitous route. “I went from studying for the CPA exam to becoming a clinical social worker. Many had doubts about my non-traditional career trajectory, but I have never regretted this hard, but ultra-fulfilling field.”

Eriksen shared Beard’s sentiments, stating “helping clients and their families work towards stability and independence is incredibly rewarding.”

Like Beard, Eriksen did not take a direct route to social work. “I believe I was always on the path of becoming a helping professional, but the circumstances surrounding Hurricane Katrina guided me onto that path. I desperately wanted to help the people of my city, but felt under-qualified to do so.”

She went to Tulane Social Work School to pursue a career in social services. “Social work is a broad field, which has allowed me many different experiences, each unique and fulfilling.”

She plans to continue as a helping professional with her business, Care NOLA. “I will provide care management to assist seniors and their families navigate their care options in real time, as their needs evolve,” she said.

Staffers at JFS say they will miss Eriksen’s bright smile and upbeat personality around the office. “She always greets you with a kind word and a huge smile,” said Haley Hemenway Sledge, JFS communications and events coordinator.

Executive Director Roselle Ungar said she has made peace with the transition. “I’ve known Rachel and her family for many years, so I’m happy to watch her grow into this new season of her career. It was incredibly rewarding to work with someone so passionate and in-tune with our community, especially when our community suffered. She has so much to offer, and I know she will continue to be a bulwark against suffering in New Orleans.”

Eriksen says she will miss colleagues and clients. “I love being surrounded by caring professionals. The JFS staff is incredibly dedicated, hard working and passionate. I also really enjoy working with such a diverse client population. In 10 years at JFS, I have seen clients make changes that will impact the rest of their lives in positive ways.”

Ungar says she is “ecstatic” about Beard’s new role. “She’s a dedicated professional with incredible drive. I’m thrilled she applied.” continued on page 29 July 2021 • Southern Jewish Life

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Celebrating 30 Years of Covering and Connecting Our Communities

Well-informed communities are stronger communities

By Richard Friedman

Southern Jewish Life tells our story, keeping our communities connected and informed!

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July 2021 • Southern Jewish Life

Meeting for Lunch Decades after Frances Foster White tried to integrate Pizitz restaurant, she and Michael Pizitz develop friendship

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City

community

It was a time long ago. So much has changed that it’s hard to remember such a situation once existed. But it did.

For decades there was a brutal segregation barrier in Birmingham and much of the Deep South that reflected an unyielding determination by the White establishment to keep the Michael Pizitz (Temple Emanu-El photo) races separate in every facet and Frances Foster White (Birmingham of life.

Times photo/Ariel Worthy) Not only that, the intended message at every turn — delivered forcefully and at times violently — was that whites were superior and Blacks were inferior.

What drove Birmingham’s system of segregation was the belief that white dominance was inherent in the natural order of things; that African Americans were to be controlled no matter what the cost; and that access

by African Americans to better education and equal economic and political opportunities would weaken the dominating grip of the white power structure on the city and its surrounding area.

This and more led to Birmingham’s emergence as one of America’s primary civil rights battlegrounds.

It also led to a fateful day in August of 1960 when the lives of Frances Foster White, an African American teenager at the time, and Michael Pizitz, a younger member of one of Birmingham’s most prominent retail families, became linked — leading to a friendship six decades later that neither could have imagined.

It was on that day that Foster White and other young African-Americans, who had been coached and prepped, entered Birmingham’s downtown department stores to intentionally violate the city‘s segregation laws, risking jail time, but determined to correct decades of injustice by launching another assault on the city’s oppressive Jim Crow laws.

“Didn’t Make Sense” Foster White, whose family lived next door to the legendary Birmingham civil rights leader Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth, planned to integrate the downtown Pizitz store’s in-store restaurant. For her, the assignment was personal.

“My family and I had shopped at Pizitz my whole life. What I didn’t understand was how we were allowed to spend our money in the store but could not eat in the restaurant,” she recalled. “It didn’t make sense to me.”

After she seated herself in the store restaurant, a Pizitz employee immediately understood what was happening and told Foster White that she needed to go down to the basement “where the n——s eat.”

The Birmingham teenager refused, police were summoned and she was taken outside where none other than Eugene “Bull” Connor, the city’s public safety commissioner and the face of segregation, was waiting.

Her belief, then and now, which she tries to impart to young people today, is “If you don’t stand for something, you’ll fall for anything.” And indeed she stood tall that day, unafraid.

She and the other Black teenagers who tried to desegregate the eating areas at the other stores that day were herded into a police vehicle and

community

Smile With Confidence BRACES

taken to juvenile for the night, something they had expected and been prepared for.

Michael at the time was in his 20s and his father, Isadore, was running the business, which was started by Michael’s grandfather, Louis.

The Pizitz family, one of Birmingham’s most prominent Jewish families, was one of the state’s major retailers. The family had five stores in the Birmingham area and others throughout the state, with the downtown store serving as their flagship store.

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Reaching Out The Frances Foster White-Pizitz linkage might have ended in 1960 had not Birmingham’s WVTM-TV (Channel 13) decided in 2021 to do a story on Foster White and the day she tried to desegregate the Pizitz restaurant.

Two of Michael Pizitz’s daughters were watching the news that day and called him immediately. He then watched a video of the story himself.

After thinking about it, he decided to reach out to Foster White and connect with her, starting with a lunch — which she said should be at the Pizitz Food Hall, since that is where she had been arrested. Their getting together was chronicled by the station, and a fascinating and moving half-hour conversation can be viewed on their website.

The conversation was warm and reflective, and a powerful encounter for each of them.

Foster White recalled the drama of that August 1960 day. Pizitz explained the pressure his family and other downtown merchants, many of them Jewish, faced from both the Black and white communities.

He also recounted the coordinated effort by the downtown merchants not only to eventually desegregate their restaurants and restrooms but also to move African Americans into sales roles, another goal of civil rights activists.

“Segregation was wrong,” Pizitz said. “We all knew that. But if any store desegregated by themselves, it would face harsh and potentially violent reprisals. That’s why almost all of the downtown stores decided to do it together. So no one family or store could be singled out.”

The best part of the story, aside from the dramatic racial changes that have taken place in Birmingham since the 1960s (even though Foster White and Pizitz agree more changes are needed), may be the friendship that has developed between these two.

They talk regularly, get together for lunch and have become genuine friends; a relationship that has brought both of them great fulfillment.

One could even say that their story is a reflection and validation of the truth that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. put forth in his famous “Letter from Birmingham Jail,” written in April, 1963: “All men are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly. I can never be what I ought to be until you are what you ought to be, and you can never be what you ought to be until I am what I ought to be.”

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continued from page 27

Beard says she is “most excited to impact the operations of JFS on a much larger level.”

“It’s a challenging time for organizations like ours,” said Ungar. “Our clients are really struggling, so it is a blessing to have the continuity of an internal hire. We’re in good hands with Michelle.”

No matter who is at the helm, Beard says, “JFS’s role is to be the ultimate resource for our community members while ensuring the community’s well-being and self-sufficiency. Whether we are providing counseling, group therapy, education on teen suicide and how to prevent it, case management, senior services, we will be here. Our program offerings will likely evolve and grow to meet the community’s ever changing needs, but our mission and presence will remain.”

July 2021 • Southern Jewish Life

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community

Children born into all kinds of circumstances have dreams and dreams are powerful.

WE DO WHAT WE DO BECAUSE CHILDREN HAVE DREAMS.

100-year-old Myron Radwin meets angel two weeks before his death Editor’s note: This story was posted online on June 18. Myron Radwin died on July 3.

By Richard Friedman Long-time well-known Birmingham Jewish community member Myron Radwin was in his room at Grandview Hospital recently recovering from surgery when something unexpected happened.

Interviewed days later at home and in a declining health situation, Myron and his daughter Holly Mazer, who was in his hospital room at the time, recounted the story Holly Mazer and Myron with smiles and emotion.

Radwin It goes like this.

A man came into Myron’s hospital room wearing a clergy collar. He identified himself as a chaplain. He was familiar with Myron’s situation and knew that he was 100 years old.

“He asked how my dad was doing and said my father did not look 100,” said Holly.

To those who’ve seen Myron lately, this visitor was right. He does not look 100 and more remarkably, sounded like he did 40 years ago, speaking with a strong voice, rich with clarity and detail, and exuding an engaging warmth.

The chaplain asked Myron if he had served in World War II. Myron said yes, that he served in the Pacific front in the medical corps, like the famed MASH unit immortalized on television.

The clergyman in turn told them that he, too, was in the medical corps, while serving in the Air Force in Vietnam. Myron then told him that he also was in the Air Force.

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They talked about some other things for a while. He told Myron and Holly his name and, based on his last name, Myron asked him if he was Italian. He said that his name had Spanish origins. He also said he helps out at the downtown Greek Orthodox Church during their festivals.

“Before I go I want to read you a Psalm,” he said. Myron said that was fine but added, “I just want you to know I am Jewish.”

Then without hesitation this Christian, in Hebrew, recited the Shema and then burst into song, chanting it beautifully, also in Hebrew. The Shema is considered the most important prayer in Judaism: “Hear O Israel, the Lord is our God, the Lord is One.” “My dad and I looked at each other with amazement and disbelief.

There was hair standing straight up on my arms. He sang the Shema in a beautiful voice,” said Holly. “We told him how wonderful his voice was and to hear him sing the Shema with such gusto was a beautiful experience that we would treasure.”

With that they thanked him. He smiled with appreciation, said he had others to visit and then he was gone.

“When he left we couldn’t stop talking about him. We both forgot his name so I went out to the nurses station and asked them his name,” said Holly.

“There were a few nurses standing around and when I asked them about this chaplain, they said they didn’t see anyone or know of anyone who had been on the floor.”

With that Holly went back to her dad’s room where both of them agreed that their mysterious visitor was an angel that had been sent to them.

“This chaplain had such a calming voice and him singing the Shema just made our day. My dad was so happy, which made me so happy. We still talk about this wonderful experience. This moment in time will remain with us.”

Myron put it this way as his wife Marian and Holly stood nearby: “I know that man was sent to me by God.”

Photo by Cheryl Empey from FreeImages

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Expanding nationally, Jewish fertility group opens office in Birmingham The Jewish Fertility Foundation, a non-profit organization that provides financial assistance, emotional support and educational programs for people experiencing infertility, is opening an office in Birmingham this month.

Founded in Atlanta in 2015, the organization is working to replicate itself in communities across the country to reach more people who need its grants and services. In 2019, a Cincinnati office opened, and Birmingham is the third location. A Tampa office will open later this summer, with three more cities scheduled for next year.

The organization’s Birmingham presence is made possible by a partnership between JFF and Collat Jewish Family Services, which will house the new office, with support from the Birmingham Jewish Foundation.

Julie Cohen, who is also a Speech Language Pathologist, is the manager of the Birmingham office. She and her husband went through “a lot of pain” before becoming the parents of a 4-year-old and twin toddlers. “I like to think that we’ve gone through that so that I can help others.”

Cohen said she would have loved to have a Jewish resource to fall back on during those days. “People would invite me to Christian support groups, but that did not feel comfortable for my husband or me. I personally have reached out to others who I knew were going through it, but there has never been a formal network for Jewish families,” she said.

The organization was started by Elana Frank and reproductive law attorney Lynn Goldman, both of whom had struggled with infertility. Goldman attended a church support group before starting a group at her synagogue.

Frank received fertility treatment in Israel, where insurance covers what is a high-cost procedure, and when she moved back to Atlanta in 2015, she wanted to help those in the U.S. who could not afford treatment. Thirty-one states have no insurance coverage for fertility treatments, and the average cost of an IVF cycle is $20,000, with no guarantee of success.

She estimates that while one in eight women ages 21 to 44 nationally suffers from infertility, in the Jewish community it is one in six.

When CJFS expressed interest in bringing the program to Birmingham, Frank evaluated the need and availability of clinics.

CJFS Executive Director Lauren Schwartz said the partnership is a perfect fit for CJFS, which works to strengthen families and improve mental health and wellness. “CJFS is always evolving to meet community needs, and we’re thrilled to be bringing JFF’s successful model of education, support and connection for families experiencing infertility to Birmingham,” she said.

Cohen said it is difficult for friends and families to be supportive, as they don’t realize the “roller coaster of emotions that goes along with infertility.

JFF’s programming addresses all of these issues and also assists with the high cost of fertility treatment for those eligible.”

She added, “I can’t wait to build this resource for our community!”

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Helping Children Manage Stress, Anxiety

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Anxiety disorders are one of the most common mental health issues of childhood and adolescence, causing extreme fear and worry, leading to changes in a child’s behavior, sleep, eating or mood.

Children can feel stress and anxiety for many different reasons — parents’ divorce, controversial world news or a relative’s illness. Academic or social pressures can also increase stress. Some children are people pleasers, perfectionists or have type-A personalities, which can contribute to anxiety.

Parents should teach their child how to manage their time and responsibilities to prevent feelings of being stressed, overwhelmed or overcommitted.

Parents should also be cautious when discussing serious issues when their pre-adolescent children are near because children will often pick up on their parents’ anxieties and start to worry themselves.

Dr. Natalie Krenz, clinical psychologist at Children’s of Alabama, said parents can teach coping skills to their pre-adolescent children struggling with anxiety:

Deep breathing with the “sniff the flowers” and “blow bubbles” technique Relax by taking a deep breath in (like sniffing flowers) and taking a deep breath out (like blowing out bubbles) Muscle relaxation using the “squeeze lemons” technique Imagine you are squeezing juice from the lemon and then shaking the lemon juice out to demonstrate tensing and relaxation of the muscles Krenz said parents can model healthy techniques to show their children coping skills. A parent may tell their child they had a stressful day, so they are going to take a break and do something relaxing — going on a walk, taking a bath, engaging in a hobby such as painting or reading, or practicing deep breathing exercises. Parents can also communicate to children that it’s okay to feel scared, worried or stressed. Parents should be sure to validate their child’s feelings first, then work together to come up with a solution to cope with stress in a healthy way.

Parents should not only model self-care for their children, but they should also encourage their child to try self-care on a regular basis. Important self-care methods for children include getting 10 to 11 hours of sleep per night for ages 5 to 10, and 8 to 10 hours of sleep for ages 10 to 17, having a balanced diet, and avoiding the use of electronics before bed.

Trauma of any form, including physical, sexual or emotional abuse, dangerous living situations, academic issues, personality tendencies or certain genetic components can cause anxiety in children.

Some children have learning disabilities, Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder or a high-achieving personality, which can contribute to stress at school. A child’s personality type — more introverted or timid — could contribute to development of anxiety. Genetic components can also con-

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“Deep Breathing” technique

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tribute to anxiety. If a parent experienced anxiety at a young age, the child is more likely to have the genetic components for anxiety.

“A parent should seek professional help if their child is dealing with anxiety and stress that interferes with their functioning; the child can’t control anxious feelings and it worsens as time goes on,” Krenz said. If the child is not engaging in self-care or missing school, parents should consider these as telltale indications they should seek professional help for their child.

Parents should discuss options with their pediatrician. Krenz suggests looking into therapy before choosing the route of medication. It is also important to consider that anxiety often coexists with other mental health conditions, including depression. While anxiety is a pervasive issue among children and teenagers, parents should be encouraged that there are many effective coping skills and resources to help their child.

ENT Associates details advances in sleep apnea treatment ENT Associates of Alabama, established in 1971 by Morton Goldfarb, who is still with the practice, has made important advancements with the treatment of sleep apnea for patients who have not had good results with a CPAP machine.

Dr. Scott Elledge, ENT Associates of Alabama vice president, said they have recently started implementing a new surgically-implanted device called Inspire. This device helps the tongue protrude instead of collapse during sleep, opening the airway and helping to treat sleep apnea.

“We have just started the program, but it really opens up a whole new frontier and it has changed people’s lives,” Dr. Elledge said of the procedure, which involves a couple small incisions below the mandible and collarbone, with a probe that goes into the rib cage.

Sleep apnea treatment can also lower the risks for cardiovascular issues, including hypertension.

Elledge said ENT Associates of Alabama has also made great advancements in sinus surgery for sufferers of chronic sinus headaches and related issues. “We’ve had success loading up a stent with steroids and other medicines then surgically implanting it in the sinuses. The medicines reduce inflammation, while preventing scar tissue and polyps. This in turn deposits the medicine where the problem is versus less-effective systematic antibiotics,” he said.

Advancements in diagnostic technologies has also allowed ENT Associates of Alabama to help sufferers of chronic sinus infections. “We have a mini CAT-Scan in our office. This can pick everything up with greater clarity and it adds to the convenience since we can get more done in one visit,” said Elledge.

He also added that they have been able to advance immunotherapy for chronic allergy sufferers. “It is a vaccinating process. You are teaching your immune system how to tolerate. As you take the shot, you are building up blocking antibodies. It takes time, but it works very well in most cases,” said Elledge, who has been practicing since 1994 and merged his practice with ENT and Associates in 2009.

The practice is led by president and involved Jewish community member Dr. Sheldon Black. Dr. Jack Aland and Dr. Howard Goldberg are also part of the ENT Associates of Alabama team. Its 10 locations across the Birmingham area and central Alabama treat patients with ear, nose and throat-related issues from infants to geriatrics.

They offer high-quality hearing devices and in-house allergy treatment at all locations. ENT Associates of Alabama also treats voice disorders, caring for patients with voice prosthesis and performing cosmetic procedures.

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A Special Issue 30 Years in the Making

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Not all Independent or Assisted Living and Memory Care Communities are alike. Choose carefully and do your research!

Mark Francis is an executive for special projects, hospitality and customer service with Schonberg Care. He has spent many years traveling across the country and has seen hundreds upon hundreds of Senior Living Communities.

“Looking for a community that is known for providing each of its residents the highest quality care and senior living experience, while at the same time providing peace of mind for sons and daughters who trust us to care for their loved ones, is essential,” Francis said. “This is something that is very important for you to know, understand and utilize as you research your options.”

Each community one researches for themselves or a loved one should present residents with the opportunity to embrace and live life to the fullest. The idea is to find a community that truly makes living life easy!

For starters, make sure the community offers top-of-the-line entertainment, delicious dining, daily activities, and special events. To ensure their families have 100 percent quality time with their loved ones, the communities should take care of the mundane necessities too. Medications, personal care, laundry, cooking, and cleaning are just some of the services they offer their residents. It’s very important to ask these questions when doing research as well as when touring different communities.

“They should take extreme care and time with everyone,” Francis said, “because no two people are the same. Every resident should be a privilege to care for. Does the community you are looking at offer customized wellness plans and activities, gourmet menu options, social events, in-house therapy opportunities, and a wide variety of other customizable services?

This is important not only to the residents but to the family’s peace of mind.”

This decision is a huge commitment and a major step in the amazing journey toward one’s legacy. Take the time to do the research. Ask questions. Talk to current families. “You will be happy you did, and when you find that special place you will be proud to call it home,” Francis said.

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Jewish spiritual counselor practices what she teaches Jewish spiritual counselor Terri Ann Heiman said Reiki — the transfer of universal energy from the practitioner’s hands to the patient — closely aligns with ruach, the Hebrew word for spirit.

“Reiki works on all the demands on the body — physical, mental, emotional and spiritual,” said Heiman. “With Reiki and other spiritual wellness, I help people to tune into their inner self and help them to understand how to channel that energy to help them heal. I teach them what I learned.”

Reiki is a form of alternative therapy that first emerged in Japan in the late 1800s.

Through her Natural Forces Studio in Birmingham and virtual counseling across the nation, Heiman helps patients through healing modalities such as reiki energy, intuitive development, private mentoring, EFT, yoga, meditation and healing crystals.

“This can do so much to relieve anxiety, stress, cope with grief and overcome addictions,” said Heiman. “I have even worked with cancer patients. It doesn’t cure but it can bring the body back into balance so it can heal itself.”

Heiman is from Birmingham and went to New York City in the 1970s to earn a BDA in Fine Arts. She would go on to get married and have a couple of children, while selling her handmade jewelry.

But after an emotionally difficult divorce following 13 years of marriage, she sought the help of a therapist. She found her true answers through a spiritual counselor.

That helped and interested Heiman so much that she started learned and trained in the healing arts, launching her own business. With her children grown and out in the workforce, Heiman came back to Birmingham in 2011 to help take care of her parents, Virginia and Hertzl.

She was one of the first to bring Reiki to the region and she started doing education with her podcast, “The Empowered Spirit Show.”

Emotional Freedom Technique is a form of energy psychology for physical pain and emotional distress. It’s also referred to as tapping or psychological acupressure.

Heiman said this technique can create a balance in one’s energy system and treat pain. “It can be really effective in treating anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder,” she said.

Similar to acupuncture, EFT focuses on the meridian points to restore balance to one’s body energy. It’s believed that restoring this energy balance can relieve symptoms a negative experience or emotion may have caused.

Based on Chinese medicine, meridian points are thought of as areas of the body energy flows through. “When the body, spirit, emotions and mind are in balance and your energy is flowing, that is when we can heal,” said Heiman.

Energy healing and wellness helped Heiman cope with her grief after losing her father in 2014 and her mother in 2018.

“Mom was the head of the chevra kadisha at Temple Beth-El and she really taught me so much,” said Heiman. “It’s tough dealing with grief. We all cope with it in our own way. I can impart some things that have helped me” to those who come to her for grief counseling.

She does an initial free consultation for prospective patients to come up with a specific program based on their wellness needs.

“Natural healing involves an openness and commitment to our wellness,” said Heiman. “We tailor a (natural) wellness plan to fit each individual patient.” But she says one aspect is universal. “Spirituality just makes you a better person.”

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Bayshore Retreat takes holistic approach to addiction Vacations by the beach can be relaxing and therapeutic. It is that idea, accompanied with a healthy, holistic environment that has allowed Bayshore Retreat in Destin to help many women (and men) with their addictions.

Judy Butler, who lives in Birmingham much of the time, leads Bayshore with her son, Jeff. They started the unique facility, which only takes no more than six clients at a time, more than six and a half years ago.

“While only 30 percent of our clients are women, most of them are over the age of 40 (one even celebrated her 70th birthday at Bayshore) and struggling with alcohol addiction,” said Butler. “We provide them with a nurturing environment that helps to boost their self-esteem and provide coping mechanisms. They can develop or further their hobbies and interests. It is so much more than most of what’s out there, which are the typical 12-step programs.”

Butler said most have never been to rehab before. Their children are grown or in their late teens, driving and going their own directions.

“They may feel they have lost a purpose and don’t feel as needed anymore.

They may have given up a career in business for family and things have changed to much with technology that they don’t see themselves returning to work. They feel somewhat lost and without an identity,” she said.

Butler said some of the female clients have tried to treat their issues with doctors who gave them medications. When one medication ceased to work they gave them another and it became an unhealthy cycle.

“Unlike the large big box facilities, clients are able to relax and get oneon-one attention,” she said. “They’re able to focus on themselves, reflect and talk to doctors or counselors about their particular feelings or pain. They’re able to think clearly about the future and where they want their life to be in the future.”

Some of the holistic healing activities at Bayshore include yoga, massage, dry sauna therapy, exercises, social opportunities, meals cooked by expert chefs, art (led by Butler herself), crafts and more. They also offer counseling, acupuncture and hypnotherapy from local providers.

Butler said most addiction issues are more complex, so customized treatment is important. Alcoholism may be triggered by situations and behavior that can be altered.

As far as warning signs of alcohol addiction, key signs are drinking in the morning or early in the day, unexplained bruises and short-term memory loss or blackouts.

She said clients choose Bayshore Retreat because it is different from other addiction treatment facilities. “They love the home environment, the neighborhood setting, the peaceful waterfront location and all the amenities we offer.”

Braces become more personalized as 3D technology advances Advanced technology with custom fabricated braces and clear aligners gives Birmingham’s Oxmoor Valley Orthodontics and its patients more reasons to smile.

Dr. Deborah Sema said that today more companies are now offering customized braces, which “are made to more ideally fit each patient’s individual teeth and move each tooth as that particular tooth needs to be moved into an ideal occlusion. This can mean more effective treatment.”

Dr. Sema now can even fits teens and some younger patients in clear aligners. “With digital printers now gaining popularity, orthodontists can even print their own clear aligners in office,” she said.

Technology has also advanced diagnostics, with Oxmoor Valley Orthodontics’ 3D X-ray machine. Sema said being able to see how each tooth occludes on a 3D digital X-ray allows them to gain more accurate information than scanned or plaster models with 2D X-ray images.

“I can also better evaluate airway in 3D — not just measuring airway but also dimensions of the maxillary arch, to help me better plan for any 36

July 2021 • Southern Jewish Life

health/wellness Spiritual Counseling Empowering the Spirit patients who may have breathing issues,” she said.

The American Association of Orthodontists recommends screening by an orthodontist by age seven. Oxmoor Valley sees some patients earlier than that if they have severe crowding, significant jaw discrepancies and overbite, underbite or crossbite issues.

Dr. Sema serves on various boards, looking at it as her way of “giving back to the profession I love.” She is past president of the Birmingham District Dental Society and past president of the Alabama Orthodontic Alumni Foundation. Sema currently serves as First Senior Director for the Southern Association of Orthodontists.

Their office is in West Homewood, in what was previously the North Birmingham Train Depot. The office has the feel of an old train depot and is decorated with train memorabilia.

“We love having the opportunity to see our patients over two to three years on a regular basis and making this a fun environment,” said Sema.

“We have a great team that really values taking the best care of the patients that we can… supporting them, the community and our schools.”

The year of Zoom: Preventing computer eye fatigue My Eye Doctor Alabama takes a visionary approach when it comes to proactively addressing myopia prevention and helping prevent Computer Eye Fatigue Syndrome.

Brooke Kaplan, field director for My Eye Doctor Alabama, said that limiting screen time for adults and kids during the pandemic proved difficult.

“As parents, we were telling our kids we need to limit their screen time,” with eye health as one reason, “but with their virtual learning and our virtual meetings, computer (or phone) time greatly increased for most,” said Kaplan.

She said that as a result they saw more patients with Computer Eye Fatigue Syndrome. That is marked by dry eyes and styes.

“When we are on the computer we blink 40 percent less than we normally do,” said Kaplan. “That is why we recommend the 20-20-20 rule. Every 20 minutes take a 20 second break to look out 20 feet.

Kaplan also recommends blue-light coating filters on lenses and setting iPhones to Nightshift warm mode late in the evening.

“We want to filter out the harmful blue light while allowing the good blue light that helps with our circadian cycles,” she added.

As a clinical field director, Kaplan has been on the cusp of advancements in eye care, including the recent FDA approval of lenses that can help to slow the progression of nearsightedness in kids.

The MiSight contact lenses by CooperVision are the first daily disposable contacts approved for 8- to 12-year-olds, though they are not to be worn overnight.

“These lenses have proven to be effective and comfortable for kids to wear,” said Kaplan. “The contacts create a peripheral blur, which signals the brain not to elongate the eye.”

Another option is Corneal Reshaping Therapy, which involves a hard contact lens kids sleep in and take out when they wake up.

For adults, Kaplan said that three companies are in FDA trials with daily drops that can correct presbyopia, thus eliminating the need for bifocal lenses.

My Eye Doctor’s network includes 720 locations, with 20 locations in north and central Alabama as well as a few in the New Orleans area.

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It’s definitely time to Escape: Day Spa expands CBD, lash offerings For those in Birmingham who were seeking a relaxing, healing environment to visit when travel was inhibited due to the pandemic, Escape Day Spa served as a safe, rejuvenating getaway.

This summer the Homewood day spa will be expanding its services to include CBD massages as well as open a Lash and Beauty Bar a few doors down.

“During the pandemic, we had some time to reflect and to really consider some ways we wanted to grow the business. These are natural extensions to July 2021 • Southern Jewish Life

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July 2021 • Southern Jewish Life

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what we were already doing and we really think our clients will embrace them,” said Carrie Holley, who owns Escape Day Spa with her sister, Alicia Liddon.

They have already been offering a line of CBD products, which they plan to continue. Escape recently expanded its offerings with an all-inclusive line that employs a cold-pressed fermentation process using 100 percent of the hemp plant grown and created in California.

In addition, they now offer a CBD Superfood extract; a slow-simmered CBD and CBN salve used as an at-home spot treatment to relieve pain as well as promote sleep. Other new offerings include a Sports roll-on for post recovery, a CBD body oil, a wild-crafted face oil that includes nutrients to reduce inflammation as well as hydrate the face, and CBD bath soaks.

“By implementing CBD together with these (therapies and services), we can enhance the benefits of stress relief, reduce muscle inflammation, help injury recovery, increase blood flow, boot the immune system and promote sleep,” said Holley. “We’re taking an inward and outward approach to healing the body.

Liddon will lead the Lash and Beauty Bar in the expanded space and they also plan to launch a lash school. Holley anticipates that the new space will be open by September.

She said that early on during the pandemic, Escape Day Spa, like many other “non-essential” businesses, had to close. When they re-opened after a couple of months, they went above and beyond with measures to keep everyone safe.

“I give the team so much credit. Everyone came together with all the protocols to make sure had a clean, safe environment,” said Holley. “We had so many of our clients tell us how much they appreciated the care we showed to them. People felt so isolated and had greater stress, anxiety. When we re-opened, they were really ready for some touch therapy.”

Now Escape Day Spa is “busier than we have ever been” and is excited to introduce clients to some new healing modalities. “We love educating customers about healthy living. It is something we believe in strongly and we want to help them to take care of themselves even more.”

Personalized touch, minimally-invasive expertise set Westside Orthopaedic apart When a patient makes an appointment at Westside Orthopeadic Clinic to see Dr. Ralph Katz, they actually get to see… Dr. Katz.

The personalized service that focuses on individualized care is one of the hallmarks of Westside Orthopeadic. Dr. Katz states: “When patients come here, they are not going to see anyone but me, which is kind of unique these days.” It’s something that, as Dr. Katz celebrates his 25th anniversary at Westside Orthopeadic Clinic, he takes great pride in.

Located in Marrero, the clinic serves the greater New Orleans area and is a full-service orthopedic clinic, offering a variety of services.

A board-certified orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Katz is a specialist in minimally invasive spine surgery, including microdiscectomy and lumbar fusions.

He started using these techniques early in his career and is one of only a few doctors who are proficient at it, performing them for last 20 years. He noted that “many physicians did not continue these procedures because of the long and arduous learning curve.”

Instead of large open procedures, the minimally invasive procedures offer patients the ability, in most cases, to go home within hours after the surgery. “They have excellent results with little down time,” he said. In addition, Dr. Katz is highly skilled in general orthopedic care and still routinely performs general orthopedic procedures. Westside Orthopeadic also offers an in-house physical therapy department that continues the individualized patient care that Dr. Katz is passionate about.

Dr. Katz said that aside from his training outside the New Orleans area, he is a lifelong resident, as is his staff. “Personalized service is slowly being eroded away in medicine, but we still have it,” he said. There are no automated phone systems at Westside Orthopeadic Clinic, only live staff members, who care about you as a patient and a person.

They accept all major insurances, including worker’s compensation.

health/wellness

Poydras Home poised to be Louisiana’s first Green House Project community With its ongoing Poydras Home Reimagined expansion and transformation of its campus, Poydras Home will soon become Louisiana’s first Green House Project community.

This revolutionary care approach is focused on the fundamental principle that each resident should be the central decision maker in his or her daily life. With this expansion and transformation, Poydras Home will offer two new buildings with three homes each, a huge change from the typical long-hallway homes. The three-level buildings are connected by a large glass atrium.

The Green House model groups a smaller number of residents sharing each house, led by a dedicated Care Partner highly trained to make each day meaningful. This smaller community setup within the larger community has the added benefit of limiting Covid exposure, as was demonstrated last year in similar facilities around the country.

Homes will feature open floor plans and increased access to Poydras Home’s beautiful grounds through balconies and patios. Spacious living rooms will include comfortable seating and fireplaces, while residents can choose to

participate in meal preparation in the state-ofthe-art kitchen. Construction began last month.

Each home will have several private bedrooms, each with its own private bathroom, surrounding shared common spaces.

Poydras Home’s Historic House will be rebuilt as the Center for Healthy Living, where all residents will enjoy yoga, a therapy gym, a library, meditative space, expanded salon and

spa, and more.

Poydras Home is pleased to be working with Eskew Dumez Ripple architects to ensure the structural changes will be progressive and rooted in established, aesthetic traditions, and the new facilities reflect best practices gleaned from years of extensive research.

For more information on Poydras Home’s services, visit PoydrasHome.com

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Family owned & operated since 1950 60 Church Street, Mountain Brook 205/871-0317 crestlinepharmacyshop@gmail.com July 2021 • Southern Jewish Life

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community >> Agenda

continued from page 8

series through its lifelong learning program. The series began on July 8 and includes talks about Jews from Argentina and Portugal, those who leave Hassidic communities, the mikvah movement and repurposing stained glass windows. The Selma talk, by Amy Milligan, will be on Aug. 12 at 11 a.m. Central. Registration is available at case.edu/ lifelonglearning/lectures/jewish-anthropology The last Virtual Mission for the Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans will be on Aug. 8 at 9:30 a.m. with a “visit” to Budapest, to learn about Jewish sites and the community there. The event is free and registration is required.

The Men’s Club at Agudath Achim in Shreveport will have a “blast from the past” breakfast on July 25 at 9 a.m., with the screening of a video from when Leonard Nimoy visited the congregation in 1998 and spoke about growing up Jewish in Boston, and how being Jewish helped him develop one of the most popular Star Trek characters. The breakfast is $6.

The Temple Emanu-El Brotherhood in Birmingham will have its annual Jay Gotlieb Brotherhood Barons Game, Aug. 7, with first pitch at 6:30 p.m. The $10 ticket includes $10 in Barons Bucks that can be redeemed at the concession stands. Reservations are required by Aug. 1.

The Men’s Club at Temple Beth Or in Montgomery will have an evening at the Biscuits, Aug. 7, with the first pitch at 6:05 p.m. The group will be in the Locomotive Loft starting at 5 p.m., with a pub-style dinner menu included, and a cash bar. Tickets are $15 and must be reserved by July 26.

Jewish Family Service in New Orleans will host a free online event, “Parents Make SPACE for Back to School,” with Mark Schexnaildre, Aug. 12 at 7 p.m. Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions is a parent-based treatment program for children and adolescents with anxiety. Schexnaildre heads the child and adolescent section of the Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Center of New Orleans. Register for the event through JFS. You Belong in Huntsville will have its second event on July 24 at 8:30 a.m., with a morning hike on the Indian Creek Greenway in Madison. Visit the Jewish Federation of Huntsville and North Alabama website for details, www.jfhna.org.

Temple Beth El in Pensacola will hold its annual poker tournament, Aug. 21 at 5 p.m. Doors open at 4:15 p.m. The congregation’s largest fundraiser is a “No Limit Holdem” tournament, with a $100 buy-in in advance, or $110 at the door.

On July 28, there will be an opportunity to meet Sammie and Maddie, two of the new residents for the coming year at Moishe House New Orleans. The event will be in the backyard from 7 to 9 p.m.

Moishe Houses provide communal living for Jewish young adults in communities across the country, so they can build a pluralistic community with monthly programming.

Beth Shalom in Fort Walton Beach will have its Summer Beach Shabbat and Potluck Dinner on July 30 at John Beasley Park Pavilion.

The pavilion will open at 4:30 p.m. for those who want beach time.

Dinner starts at 6 p.m., with services at 6:30 p.m. There is bench seating but one can bring a chair. Sign-ups are requested.

The next Together Tuesday, where people of varied backgrounds in Shreveport assemble to visit, will be on Aug. 3 at 6 p.m. on Zoom.

Birmingham’s Temple Emanu-El will have a Red Cross blood drive, Aug. 3 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

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community

Birmingham’s Foundations collaborate on Jewish Future Pledge Birmingham’s three Jewish foundations are working together on an historic new project, “The Jewish Future Pledge,” a world-wide effort to secure the Jewish future.

At the beginning of 2021, the Birmingham Jewish Foundation applied for and was selected to be a pilot community to expand The Jewish Future pledge initiative throughout the country. The Grafman Endowment Fund for Temple Emanu-El and the Temple Beth-El Foundation are going to be joining the Birmingham Jewish Foundation to make it a community-wide effort.

Sally Friedman, executive director of the Birmingham Jewish Foundation, said the pledge “is a promise and a statement as to your belief in the importance of a Jewish future.”

It calls on all Jews to pledge that at least half of the charitable giving they will be doing in their wills and estate plans will support the Jewish people and/or the State of Israel.

“It doesn’t matter whether you are leaving $10 or $10 million to charity in your estate plan, by signing the pledge, you can be a part of securing the Jewish future,” she said.

The commitment to designate at least 50 percent for Jewish causes would encompass all local Jewish organizations and synagogues, as well as any Israel programs, national Jewish organizations and Jewish causes in communities around the country.

Among places that count toward the 50 percent are the local synagogues in Birmingham or Huntsville, Collat Jewish Family Services, the

BUSINESSMAN

Levite Jewish Community Center, N.E. Miles Jewish Day School and the Birmingham Jewish Federation and Foundation. Also included are outof-town synagogues where other relatives are members, or the American Jewish Committee, the Friends of the IDF, Hadassah, Joint Distribution Committee, Jewish Agency, Chabad, Jewish summer camp or BBYO. The Jewish Future Pledge was instituted as a message about the importance of sustaining the Jewish people at a time when a rising percentage of young people are disconnecting from their Jewish identity and Israel, and institutions are struggling to reach the next generation of donors.

A growing number of Birmingham families have already stepped forward to take the pledge. Freda and Bob Centor were among Birmingham’s early signers, saying “as Jews, we are part of a huge family. We feel strongly that supporting our Jewish family is a core value. We pledge to value the moral obligation of Tzedakah by contributing to our family’s future. Supporting our Jewish community and Israel is both an act of love and obligation, one that we do with pride and joy.”

Friedman said “we are so pleased to be working with the synagogue foundations on this. We want every Jewish person to help us make a difference for upcoming generations.”

More information about the pledge is available at jewishfuturepledge.org. Information is also available from the Birmingham Jewish Foundation, Grafman Endowment Fund for Temple Emanu-El and the Temple Beth-El Foundation.

Since 2017, over 450 people were killed in Birmingham!

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counselor’s corner a monthly feature from Collat Jewish Family Services

How to be a “SuperAger”

By Pam Leonard, LBSW, CDP

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What can we do to help ensure that as we age, we maintain our cognitive and physical health for as long as possible?

We already know the importance of a healthy diet and exercise, and we know it can be helpful to work puzzles, learn about new things and generally challenge and stimulate our brains.

But new research suggests that it is equally important for us to socialize and stay in contact with close friends — a notion that should get our attention as we begin to emerge from over a year of forced isolation.

The research, led by scientists at the Cognitive Neurology and Alzheimer’s Disease Center at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, focused on “SuperAgers,” defined as individuals aged 80+ with the mental agility of much younger people. These seniors appear to have one thing in common: close friends. Additionally, people who enjoy close friendships have been found to have lower rates of depression or anxiety later in life and to enjoy a higher rate of life satisfaction.

Maintaining close relationships also benefits our physical health. Socially active individuals have been shown to have a lower risk of Type 2 diabetes, and to maintain better eating and exercise habits than their peers. People who exercised in a group rather than on their own were found to have lower stress levels and better mental and physical well-being at the end of a 12-week fitness program.

In our CJFS CARES dementia respite program, we see the benefits of socializing, regardless of the level of cognitive decline a participant has experienced. CARES participants are encouraged to socialize with our volunteers and with each other. CARES, by its nature, is a community of “close friends.”

We notice that our participants are most involved and happy when they’re engaged in shared experiences: connecting and communicating with others, reminiscing, laughing along with the group. We see firsthand that these interactions are good for the brain and improve quality of life, as this new research suggests.

For many of us, the pandemic has been a time of intense social isolation. As restrictions begin to ease, it may be difficult for us to even remember what it is like to make new friends or get together with old ones.

This research may give us a new reason to make the effort.

Pam Leonard is program director of CJFS CARES, a 4-hour per week respite program for people with mild to moderate dementia. Pam also co-facilitates two virtual Caregiver Support Groups each week, and she provides one-on-one caregiver support at no cost through a grant from United Way of Central Alabama and Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham.

For more information, contact pam@cjfsbham.org or 205.879.3438.

Advertise in Southern Jewish Life Call Lee Green, (205) 870-7889 In New Orleans, Call Jeff Pizzo, (504) 432-2561 42

July 2021 • Southern Jewish Life

Come for Our social hour 4:00 to 6:00 p.m.

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Salmon & Cream Cheese Toast: Smoked Salmon Cream Cheese Pickled Onions Everything But the Bagel Sesame Seasoning Blend

Taproot Cafe

By Lee J. Green A former Super Bowl champion and his wife — who believe strongly in superfoods, community and local sourcing — have scored a win with their new Taproot Café in Hoover.

“We love to eat, and food can be a great way to connect with the community,” said Reggie Tarbor, a former Auburn University player, NFL linebacker and Super Bowl champion with the New York Giants. He and his wife, Michelle, opened Taproot in late April. “We are focused on supporting our local farmers/food makers and the community.”

Adds Michelle, “what drives us is good people, community, family and eating well. We both have other jobs and three active boys,” as Reggie is a personal development manager and Michelle is a licensed professional counselor. “We wanted to create a place that we love to come to. Our lives revolve around creating synergies; interacting with people and wellness.”

Taproot Café is a fast-casual eatery serving sandwiches, salads, toasts and smoothies in a “bright, inviting environment.” Some of their kosher-style menu items include the veggie sandwich, salmon and cream cheese toast (ingredients below), Taproot salad, avocado toast, flank steak sandwich and smoothies including avocado lime, pineapple carrot ginger and peanut butter banana.

Michelle, whose mother is Jewish, said they put a great deal of thought into the recipes and seeking out their suppliers — even their bottled water and kombucha suppliers are local.

In their smoothies, “we want the unique flavors of the fruits and vegetables to shine by pairing them with natural sugars such as wildflower honey. Adding a bunch of sugar to fruit is like dousing a good steak with A-1,” she said. “We want to keep it simple, natural, wholesome and delicious.”

Her brother, Eric Myers, is Taproot’s general manager.

Reggie said they chose the name Taproot since that is a class of root vegetables, including sweet potatoes, beets and carrots, whose roots break up the soil to create space for growth. “With Taproot we wanted to create a space for the community to grow,” he said. “Plus, beets are high in iron and we’re in the Iron City.”

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July 2021 • Southern Jewish Life

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Buffalo Chicken Casserole

Katie’s Plates

113 12th St. N. Birmingham Text (205) 281-0423 Huntsville: Text (205) 578-8095 katiesplates.com

Ingredients: 1 spaghetti squash 3 chicken breasts, cooked and shredded 1/4 cups olive oil 2 tsp minced fresh garlic 1 1/2 peeled and diced carrot 3 1/2 diced stalks celery 3/4 cup diced yellow onion 1 1/2 diced red bell pepper 2 tsp garlic powder 2 tsp salt 1/3 tsp pepper 1 2/3 cups frank’s hot sauce (which is OU) 1 2/3 cups mayo 4 eggs

Instructions: Cut spaghetti squash in half, remove seeds, and put face-down on a foil lined sheet pan. Place in preheated oven at 450 degrees for 15 minutes. Remove from oven, flip squash, and allow to cool.

Remove squash to large bowl — use fork or spoon to remove threads.

Add shredded and cooked chicken to bowl with spaghetti squash.

In pot over medium heat, add olive oil, garlic, carrots, celery, onion and bell pepper. Sauté, stirring often. Once very soft, add to bowl with chicken and spaghetti squash.

In another bowl, whisk together garlic powder, salt, pepper, frank’s hot sauce, mayo and eggs. Once mixed well, add to bowl with chicken, spaghetti squash and veggies. Mix until you can no longer see eggs.

Spray 9- by 13-inch casserole pan with PAM and add mix. Bake at 375 degrees for 45 minutes to 1 hour, or until cooked all the way through — casserole will have a golden crust on top, and it will not be jiggly!

Katie’s Plates

By Lee J. Green Katie Strickland wants people to get excited about eating healthy and knows many families find it difficult to make the time to cook healthy, tasty meals.

In 2014, the Birmingham native launched Katie’s Plates and has since expanded “her plate” to offer gourmet meal-delivery service in Birmingham, Huntsville and Nashville.

“I have a passion for food and educating people about eating healthy,” said Strickland, who earned a Food and Nutrition degree from Mississippi State University. “We were the first to do gourmet meal delivery in Birmingham and we feel like we have really started a movement.”

Strickland’s first client was her mom, and she started Katie’s Plates out continued on page 45 44

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community >> Katie’s Plates

continued from page 44

of her mom’s condominium. They now have a central kitchen and headquarters in downtown Birmingham. In 2017, they opened a storefront and kitchen for meal delivery to Nashville and then started delivering to Huntsville in 2019.

They have about 300 different recipes on regular rotation, offering two separate meals every day Monday through Thursday. Customers can mix and match the sides with the meats. Some menu items might rotate around once every few weeks or so, but “we try to keep it fresh.” There are no delivery fees and they offer some discounts for regular ordering.

Strickland said she gets inspired by coming up with recipes for tasty meals, especially for those who have some special dietary needs.

“We’ve used almond flour, cauliflower instead of rice, meat substitutes, pasta made from vegetables, honey instead of refined sugars,” she said.

“What we bring to the table is that we use such high-quality ingredients and large portion sizes.”

Their menu changes every week, but always includes some tasty, creative, kosher-style options including salmon cakes, buffalo chicken casserole (with a vegetarian chicken substitute), hibachi chicken, Thai chicken coconut soup and paleo chocolate chip cookies.

Strickland and her husband, Ian, can relate to busy families. Last September they welcomed their first child, Jack.

“I created this business for people who want to keep their family healthy, while still keeping up their busy lifestyle,” she said. “We’ve loved getting to know our customers and developing relationships with them.

There have even been some folks who have been there with us since the beginning.”

>> Rear Pew

continued from page 46

picked up for its return to the ark, the bells would jangle to wake up the congregation so they can rise without the rabbi noticing that even the non-snorers fell asleep. This additional instance of the aforementioned collective “oy” is also drowned out by the start of the Torah’s final finial jingle-jangle jungle journey.

Another common sound at services is snoring during the sermon, the significance of which is self-explanatory. Especially if it comes from the rabbi while delivering it.

Not to be missed, because it’s too loud to be, is the thumping of the microphone every time the Torah’s cover is removed and returned between each Aliyah blessing. The Talmud states that the Messiah will come once a single Shabbat passes without this happening anywhere in the world. The Talmud also says to not hold your breath.

Doug Brook’s words are also written on the subway walls and tenement halls. To read past columns, visit http://brookwrite.com/. For exclusive online content, follow facebook.com/rearpewmirror.

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rear pew mirror • doug brook

The Sounds of Service

Coming soon…

A new magazine for Israel’s Christian friends

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(205) 823-1505 46

July 2021 • Southern Jewish Life

Hello, minyan, my old friend. I’ve come to get you 10 again.

Summer months bring school breaks, vacations, camps, day trips, sleeping in more on weekends, and, as a result, fewer people at services on Shabbat or holidays. (Yes, Virginia, there are Jewish holidays during the summer.)

Attending services so sparsely attended that one can hear a tallis clip drop eventually conjures curiosity about the various sounds one hears at services, and the rich history and meaning behind these integral parts of Jewish services throughout the ages, both young and old.

An obvious example comes on Purim, when graggers are used to drown out the name of the bad guy (Haman). As the megillah reading progresses, the noise happens increasingly often, a time-honored symptom of the Purim edict to drink until you can no longer distinguish the hero and the villain.

While Purim provides an example of a high-volume tradition on a highly attended holiday, Sukkot is a lightly-attended holiday with a much quieter example. Sukkot attendance suffers because of its close proximity to the Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur decathlon, the end of which prompts a non-Passover, more off-color singing of Dayeinu (translation: “It’s Enough For Us”).

Sukkot’s agent thought it a good idea to ride on Yom Kippur’s coattails, much like the coveted time slot right after a top-10 network TV show. It backfired, thus few people are present to hear the gentle rustling from the shaking of the Lulav and its two conjoined plant species. Which is a shame because the accompanying Etrog smells nice, but that’s for another, more dubious column about the smells of the service.

Yom Kippur provides the loud, collective “oy” of finally sitting down after Kol Nidre or Ne’ilah. However, its corollary of a collective “oy” when standing up after sitting through the sermon is experienced week after week ‘til we’re weak. Not to mention, the final declaration of discomfort as we rise for the last prayer Zoom just of every service, Aleinu, or, as it often sounds due to all the creaking bones, doesn’t capture Oyveinu. This leads to the many marvelous sounds heard during services the true crowd throughout the year.

The remaining main sounds are heard sounds from during every Torah Service, so not only Shabbat morning on Shabbat, not even only on holidays, too, but also every Monday and Thursday morning and Shabbat afternoon, for those who dare.

When the Torah Service begins, the ark is opened. No matter how often they’re oiled, the hinges or tracks inevitably squeak. Chanukah celebrates how one day’s worth of oil lasted eight days but, since then, the ears of the Jewish people have been suffering through centuries of this high-pitched recompense because no amount of oil is enough to nullify these arkaic, arkane, ark-opening noises.

The crown or rimonim (Hebrew for “finials,” as if that clarifies it) riding atop the Torah typically have small bells which jingle as the Torah moves. Of course, the Torah doesn’t go straight from the ark to the reader’s table. Symbolizing the Israelites’ 40-year desert walkabout, the Torah is carried there via the most indirect route possible throughout the sanctuary, jingling all the way to help find it if it gets lost.

Another Talmudic reason for the bells is for synagogues where the sermon is delivered just before the Torah is returned to the ark, to accommodate the FedEx driver’s route schedule. Thus, when the Torah is continued on previous page

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July 2021 • Southern Jewish Life